Issued in conjunction with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
Thursday 20th June 2013 – 9.40am – Chris Kowalik.
Let emergency staff know exactly who to contact if you are in an emergency just by using ICE (In Case of Emergency).
Typically ICE is typed in front of a loved one’s name on your mobile phone, to let the emergency services know who to contact in case you are in an emergency situation.
However Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and West Midlands Ambulance Service are now urging everyone to carry an ICE contact in an easy to find location.
Increased security has led to nearly every phone being locked with a secure passcode, meaning the emergency services cannot access this vital information.
By writing the number on a card in your wallet, or sticking it on the back of your phone, it can still be found and used quickly by response teams.
Michelle Brotherton, General Manager at West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “When every second counts, emergency staff need answers fast so they can quickly and effectively give you or your loved ones the medical attention they so desperately need.”
Clare Bush, Senior Emergency Ward Sister at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “When an unconscious patient arrives in the A&E department there are many methods we use to identify them and then contact relatives.
“Some of the methods used to identify relatives would be to look through the patients belongings. It is very helpful for us if patients are carrying an emergency contact number marked as ICE, as it makes the information quick and easy to find.”
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For media enquiries, please contact
Laura Wedekind on 01905 760453 or laura.wedekind@worcsacute.nhs.uk
Rebecca Currie on 01905 733759 or rebecca.currie@worcsacute.nhs.uk
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Will definitely be putting an ICE in my phone