Put Your Cell Phone on ICE

Have your cell phone nearby? Spend a few minutes to put "ICE" by the names of the people you want to be contacted called in case of emergency.

The idea is to let rescue workers, police, or doctors check your cell phone and reach the people you would want contacted if you're in an accident or other emergency.

That's what "ICE" stands for

"In Case of Emergency"

To many people their cell phone is an indispensable tool during emergencies, capable of reuniting loved ones separated by unforeseen events at the touch of a button. However, for members of emergency services who may be making life-and-death decisions, the cell poses a conundrum: Which of the numbers stored in its electronic address book should they call to reach a casualty's next of kin?

EMS personnel often waste valuable time trying to figure out which name in a cell phone to call when disaster strikes, often they must look through wallets for clues, or scroll through cell address books and guess. Since many people identify their spouse, and family members, by name in their cell, they are indistinguishable from other entries.

Adding the acronym ICE -- "in case of emergency" -- before the names of the people you want to designate as next of kin in your cell address list will help ensure that you get the best aid available in case you become incapacitated.

Most people don't have ICE on their cell phones. I bet you will now though, once you’ve learned what those letters mean and why it's important.

After you program ICE into your phone, have your spouse, your kids, your parents, and your friends do the same thing. If there are people in your life that you care about, they should all have ICE on their phones.

Once you've got your phone ICED the next step is to make sure that you've got it with you as part of your 10 Essentials. Keep your phone on you, not in a pack or saddle bag where it could become separated in an accident.