ICE - In Case of Emergency (A really good idea)

[Stray Pooch]

Here's a very good and simple idea I ran across while digging through some back issues of my local Ham club's newsletter. 

http://cob.jmu.edu/fordham/mara/backissue/Monitor2008-Feb.pdf

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers
stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves,
knows which of these numbers belong to our
closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were
taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile
phone but wouldn't know who to call.

Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which
one is the contact person in case of an emergency?
Hence this "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.
The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a
method of contact during emergency situations. As
cell phones are carried by the majority of the population,
all you need to do is store the number of a contact
person or persons who should be contacted during
emergency under the name "ICE" (In Case Of
Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found
that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there
were always mobile phones with patients, but they
didn't know which number to call. He therefore
thought that it would be a good idea if there was a
nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an
emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel
and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact
the right person by simply dialing the number you
have stored as "ICE".

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1,
ICE2 and ICE3, etc.

Be sure it's in your kid's cell phones also. A great idea
that will make a difference!

Thanks to Ray Colvin
KE4HVR

[Xavier_Onassis]

Sounds like a great idea. If I have a cellphone, I'd program it immediately that way.

[Michael Tee]

Just tried it, but since all the people I'd want to be notified are already programmed in, when you enter the number again and try to save it, the phone says "Already stored" and won't store the number again.  I'm gonna try entering ICE first if I can, and then try to assign a number to it.  (Hopefully there's no one named "ICE" already in my phone's memory.  Thanks, Pooch.

Doesn't work.  You have to input the phone number first, then the name.  No way to enter name first, tnen number.  Gotta depend on low-tech trick of carrying wallet with biz cards and name card in one of the wallet windows.

[sirs]

My wife already brought this to my attention.  Excellent idea though

[Amianthus]

Just tried it, but since all the people I'd want to be notified are already programmed in, when you enter the number again and try to save it, the phone says "Already stored" and won't store the number again.  I'm gonna try entering ICE first if I can, and then try to assign a number to it.  (Hopefully there's no one named "ICE" already in my phone's memory.  Thanks, Pooch.

Doesn't work.  You have to input the phone number first, then the name.  No way to enter name first, tnen number.  Gotta depend on low-tech trick of carrying wallet with biz cards and name card in one of the wallet windows.

Add an extra digit to the phone number. The system will ignore it, but it should be enough for the phone to consider it a different number.

[Michael Tee]

Thanks, Ami.  That worked, now we just have to see if the phone company ignores the last digit.

[Stray Pooch]

That should work OK, Michael.  A lot of times advertisers give phone numbers with 8 letter words.  (Like, say, 1-800-CALL JOHN).  I have seen some cell phones that are too smart for their own good which automatically reject non-standard lengths, but only a few. 

Another solution would be to just rename your emergency contact ICE.  You know who it is anyway so if it is, say, your wife or parent or dog (or pet moose, up there) you would know to call ICEto reach them.  But I think Ami hit the nail on the head.

[Amianthus]

It should. The US and Canadian systems are integrated, and the US system ignores any digits after the first 10 (or 11, or 7, depending).

I would give it a test once you're into your "free minutes" time.