A thought on ICE

NO NO NO NO

Since I am also a prehospital provider (EMT-I) I agree there will not be time to look through your cell phone for a particular number to call ?In Case of Emergency!? While I credit the original idea and paramedic in England who thought this up, in the US, I do not have the luxury to look for numbers. I ask everyone who inquires about adding ICE into their cellphones the following questions.

1. Place yourself briefly in the receiving person(s) place for a moment. Imagine how you would feel if you suddenly received a call saying someone that you care about has been in an accident and I (or another co-worker; read complete stranger) inform you of this fact and then try to elicit helpful knowledge. Humans, being what we are, will have a minor (at least) anxiety attack, may try to come to the hospital, or worse, the scene and endanger themselves and others on the road. This is certainly not a good idea. Will you be able to think clearly and remember what the person would like you to remember? In the literal ?heat of the moment? I have known family members who could not locate a DNR order (do not resuscitate) on a loved one. My partner and I have gone ahead with the full resuscitation effort as we are trained and fully believe the patient would have wanted this measure. When the matter has concluded, someone will always find the order, which was within easy reach, but one that was overlooked. I use this to demonstrate the ?panic? people go through when in a crisis.

2. Is the phone locked to restrict access?

3. If I do come onto the scene of a car accident and three of four occupants have cell phones, which are now scattered around the scene, will I select the right one? I have better things to do than search for a cell phone.

4. Is the battery adequately charged?

5. With todays new cell phones, will I be able to scroll to the right menu option to access your phone book? Each manufacturer is different and I do not have time to learn them all; especially at the scene of an emergency. I know the Blackberry is the worst offender for this one.

6. While some believe this may be a way to detonate explosives, I seriously doubt the likelihood of this actually happening; still, it is something to consider.

7. What if the person in the smashed car was talking on the phone when the wreck happened? There may already be someone wanting to know information. Do you want the person you were talking too to know about the accident? I also work in real estate, I certainly do not want a complete stranger knowing anything, or asked anything about me.

8. Law Enforcement and Hospital Social Workers (both are usually present during a trauma call, or this has been my experience) will be making the necessary notifications.

I have a better idea for ICE. Use it, but use it wisely, think about the responsibility you want someone to have. With the recent hurricanes and other disasters, it may not hurt to add numbers under ICE for those times you need to evacuate. You could call each other and find out who is really ok, etc. Maybe Doug could provide a formatted PSK instruction sheet for those who take a cellular along on an outing and then get lost. It would be under ICE, but provide instructions when lost and there is no signal. Who knows, we could save a life.
One last thing here. Matt (polak 187) was right. I could use some info for billing purposes. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Take care,
Stargazer

ASAP = Always Suspicious, Always Prepared

RE the display showing ICE - which is why mine is programmed "ICE Mary"

I had a relative ask me about "I.C.E." from something seen on the internet or a chain e-mail. My response was to forget about it and not partake.

I'd rather have the personnel on scene not worry about digging through my cell phone to possibly look for an "ICE" listing.

Besides, in the worst case scenario, let's say you're separated from all identification. What makes anyone think their cell phone will be left behind or still attached? Or working, for that matter?