Many cell phone users are adding ‘In Case of Emergency’ to their
cellular phonebook
By Lori Stuenkel
Gilroy – Local emergency responders are getting behind an idea from across the pond that would make emergency contact information easily accessible.
More and more cell phone users are adding a new listing to their cellular phonebook titled ICE for “In case of emergency.” The accompanying phone numbers reach the people who should be notified if the phone’s owner is involved or is experiencing a medical emergency.
“Wow, that’s a great idea,” said Officer Chris Armstrong of the California Highway Patrol. “Frequently at an accident scene, we have a hard time contacting the next of kin or immediate family members, so it would definitely be beneficial to us to have that accessible on the cell phone.”
The idea originally came from a British ambulance service paramedic and reportedly gained momentum overseas after the London terrorist attacks. And some of the 22 million cell phone users in California are catching on. State Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, introduced a resolution earlier this month, urging all Californians to put ICE in their cell phones.
When there is a fatality, the coroner’s office will contact the next of kin. But when someone is involved in a serious accident, police will try to contact a family member as soon as possible, Gilroy police Sgt. Kurt Svardal said.
“Anything anyone can do to help us locate loved ones is a good thing,” he said.
Learning someone’s identity through a driver’s license or vehicle registration will not necessarily indicate an emergency contact, he said.
Finding a cell phone and locating emergency contact information is not the first responders’ highest priority, and is not required. Some paramedics tell cell phone users that ICE should be one of a few places where contact information is stored – many recommend keeping emergency numbers near a photo identification card, as well.
In response to ICE gaining popularity, some hoax e-mails have begun to surface, in which people falsely claim that the acronym will allow identity thieves to gain access to a cell phone’s information.
Assemblywoman Parra’s ICE resolution has been approved by the Assembly and now moves on to the Senate.
