IDing emergency numbers on a cell phone
The in basket: The way e-mails make the rounds these days, you may have seen the one about labeling phone numbers in your cell phone as ICE or I.C.E., for In Case of Emergency.
I just saw it for the first time, sent in by Clay Weyrick. It evidently originated with a British paramedic who had too often been unable to identify which number in an injured or killed person’s cell phone should be called to notify the person whom the phone owner would want to be told about such a crisis. Even calling a number labeled “Mom” can be a mistake if Mom is too emotionally fragile to deal with it over the phone.
The paramedic urges everyone to enter the best number and name it ICE, so emergency responders can make the key call to the correct person. If you have more than one, call them ICE1, ICE2, etc.
The out basket: You wouldn’t think there’d be a lot to say about such an idea, but urban legend debunker Snopes.com, has several paragraphs on the subject.
Short answer: Snopes says it’s a true story and a good idea. BUT…
Use it in addition to, not in place of, more traditional ways of getting this word out, such as a card in the wallet near your photo ID.
Even if they find ICE in a cell phone, responders often can’t be sure it’s the patient’s phone, and it can be out of power or damaged. They might also not be able to get to a given phone’s preset numbers, given the variety of phones in existence.
In any event, hospital personnel or those dealing with the patient after the paramedics deliver them are more likely to benefit, as they are the one’s who try to reach the family.
Snopes also said that e-mails saying an ICE entry will enable hackers to drain your minutes or introduce viruses ARE hoaxes.
Tags: cell phones, emergency numbers, ICE
October 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I think it is very important to be prepared in most of everything that possible happen especially for the emergencies. Wherever we are, there will be always an emergency happen, and we dont know when will it happen. And in terms of emergency cellphone number it is very important in order to have immediate responce during emergencies.