Put ICE in your cell phone for emergencies

Another "21st-century disaster management tip you WON'T hear from officials." What happens if you're in an accident or disaster and can't communicate with 1st responders? If you put a series of ICE (In Case of Emergency) listings in your cell phone directory, each with the phone # of another family member or friend, then EMTs can just check your ICE listings and dial the numbers until they reach one of your contacts to let them know about your situation and find out if you have any particular medication or medical needs that need attention.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Hurricane
• Gustav
• disaster
• emergency
• accident
• terrorism
• hurricane
• tornado
• cellphone
• wireless

[QUIX4U]

@TheBaralaba Well as long serving as U may have been- the SAFE TEXT service (operated by Telecom NZ) has been in operation for many- many years and it's good to report- doesn't even NEED people to actually HAVE ANY FRIENDS (as one doesn't "need" to even be a telecom NZ friend to use the service) which is really good for ALL international hitch-hikers & Kwi's alike- whom often TRAVEL NZ "all" alone & sadly- if cellphones had been made in olden times- MAY have even saved people like Jennifer Beard

[TheBaralaba]

@QUIX4U this is the first time I've been compelled to make a comment on you tube. As a former long serving police officer, this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard. I would think ringing one (or maybe two) of your normal contacts would achieve the same results. In any case neither would improve your chances. The world is certainly a bizarre place

[QUIX4U]

Oh & just in case YOU were wondering .. yes.. the system sends an IMMEDIATE reply TXT -- telling you that your latest SAFE TXT has been received (AND RECORDED) .. also -- if you forget .. to re_TXT "safe" that you are "Home" safe - then the last message will also serve as a starting point .. (such as when someone is missing .. as it may indicate you are still there "in a car" etc.. with the abductor -- or even IF you are found ? say -- at home .. deceased - as that could indicate WHO killed you)

[QUIX4U]

In New Zealand we've had a similar system (via Telecom) for many years.

It's called SAFE.

Simply send TXT to "safe" (7233) & then enter where you are, where you are going, how (ie: in a strangers vehicle, hitch-hiking or on foot etc)

& if you go MISSING before being able to re-TXT that you are at your destination Officials simply check the SAFE TXT message centre.

If YOUR cellphone sent a message- they'll know where to start searching.

SAFE=7233

ie: TXT 7233 I'm hitching car rego**** now

[lionjwd]

Actually the new Motorola Milestone X, )and I am sure that other cell phones does also ) have blank spaces, whereby one can add up to three IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (ICE) contacts. and three notes.

[JNHstudios]

In addition to this put "AA" in front of your ICE contacts. That way, when someone looks up your contacts they will be at the top of the list. Just a good tip I got from a fellow Canadian....

[jayrits]

very good to know! I got this info through an email a few days ago and put it in my cell phone

[cottonkandynb]

I read this in a magazine actually. An official probably told them soo err...

[SkagitIMS]

I'll do that ICE tip today.

BTW, what video editor do you use? I like how you were able to overlay your video narration with other clips and blur certain information too.

[Sociotard]

I actually already heard about this while reading a flyer in the sherrifs office, so you could say I heard this from an official.

Still a good tip though.