ICE - In Case of Emergency - emergency contact number in your mobile/cell phone.

How many of you are aware of ICE? - In Case of Emergency - when you put in your mobile/cell phone a contact number for one or more people to be contacted by emergency services in case something happens to you and you are on your own.

When I give my talks to our local cardiac rehab unit I tell those in attendance about this...in my phone I have ICE 1 for my wife (her mobile/cell number), ICE 2 for my brother (his mobile) and ICE 3 for home (landline number).

In case of emergency (ICE) is a programme that enables first responders, such as paramedics, firefighters, and police officers, as well as hospital personnel, to contact the next of kin of the owner of a mobile phone to obtain important medical or support information (the phone must be unlocked and working). The phone entry (or entries) should supplement or complement written (such as wallet, bracelet, or necklace) information or indicators.

The programme was conceived in the mid-2000s and promoted by British paramedic Bob Brotchie in May 2005. It encourages people to enter emergency contacts in their mobile phone address book under the name "ICE". Alternatively, a person can list multiple emergency contacts as "ICE1", "ICE2", etc. The popularity of the programme has spread across Europe and Australia, and it has started to grow into North America.

Read more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_case_of_emergency

http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/advice/mobile/ice/

http://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/Community-Info/In-Case-of-Emergency.html

Medical Bracelets and Necklaces

For a number of years now, I have been giving talks to our local cardiac rehab unit about my heart attack and what I did  regarding changes to lifestyle, diet and exercise.

During my talks I mention that I keep a list of my medicines and what they are for in my wallet and I also talk about ICE - In Case of Emergency - which refers to making a couple of entries in your mobile/cell phone's address book which in the case of an emergency would direct first responders, paramedics or police for example, to who to call in the event that you have a medical emergency while you are out and about.

Another thing I mention, because I have a number of medical issues, is that I wear a medical alert bracelet which lists some of my issues including my have having a heart attack, have stents and have had bypass surgery, that I am on insulin for diabetes and on oroxine for my thyroid condition.

An example of a Medical Alert bracelet/necklace

I show those present my bracelet and suggest that people might want to consider wearing one of these, especially if like me, they have more than one serious health/medical condition.

I personally wear a bracelet from Medic Alert but know there are many companies out there that produce a similar product. A Google search will help find a company/supplier where you live.

This is just a thought but one worth considering in my opinion.

More information on Medic Alert products can be found here: https://www.medicalert.org.au/
(Please note I am not an agent or representative for Medic Alert).

For Healthcare Professionals: https://www.medicalert.org.au/Healthcare_Professionals

MedicAlert® can help you make a quick diagnosis or prevent incorrect medication or procedures being administered in emergency situations.

This is my bracelet:

Card with information for wallet or purse:

 Larger Card with information for fridge: