As parents, most of us don’t like to think about the what-ifs when it comes to life-threatening emergencies. But what if the unthinkable happened? How would first responders know who to contact? One of the simplest ways is to ICE your cell phone— and no, we don’t mean putting it in the freezer!
ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency.”
Medical providers, such as paramedics, nurses, and doctors, are increasingly aware of and using ICE to look to notify a person’s emergency contacts and obtain critical medical information when a patient arrives unconscious or unable to answer questions.
Here’s How It Works
- Create a new cell phone contact.
- In the name line, enter ICE, followed by the first name of your emergency point person (ie, ICE Mark).
- Choose someone who knows your medical history and can answer questions about allergies and medications you are currently taking.
- Let family members know that you have done this and encourage them to do so as well—especially your own children and teens!