Personal 'ICE' number on cell phone can save your life

Personal 'ICE' number on cell phone can save your life
July 25, 2005 - By John Capelland KATU Web Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. - Did you know there is a simple thing you can do on your cell phone to help emergency personnel if you are injured or have some other kind of medical emergency?
It's called 'ICE' and it could help save your life.

Emergencies happen all of the time across the Portland metropolitan area. This time, the call is for an unconscious woman on a bike path in southwest Portland.
The woman cannot speak or give the responding medical team critical details about why she might have fallen, what medications she might be on or who to contact in an emergency.

"The more information you have about someone and their needs, obviously you are able to treat that person more effectively," says Gary Gray, a paramedic with the Portland Fire Bureau.
Fortunately, in this case, the woman's husband was there to fill in paramedics on what they needed to know, but what if she had been alone, or traveling out of town?
'ICE,' which stands for 'In Case of Emergency' may be one answer.

In recent weeks, a growing e-mail movement is encouraging people to program at least one emergency contact name and number following the code word 'ICE' in their cell phone. The number would be one that emergency responders could call of something happened to you.
"(It's a) good concept," says cell phone user Matilda Rosenberg. "Sounds like a safe way to alert people."

Parents say 'ICE' is especially good for kids, who might not be carrying any other form of identification. Portland EMTs had not heard of the idea until KATU News told them about it, but say they will be looking for 'ICE' numbers from now on. "I think it's a terrific idea," says Lt. Sid Palmer with the Portland Fire Bureau. "I hope more people get in the movement and start doing this. I think it will help us provide better care and to notify family members faster."
Paramedics say programming an 'ICE' number into your cell phone might turn out to be an important addition to things like medical alert bracelets and medical ID cards.