I C E......In Case of Emergency

[TazziRN]

Does anyone use this? Have you ever looked at a pt's cell phone for this? My husband wanted me to find out if this is an urban legend or if we should have this in our kids' cell phones.

[AuntieRN]

What exactly is this? I have never heard of it.

[TazziRN, RN]

VA, I ended up finding a recert class in the bay area and went to that, but I got the online class cleared through the ed dept so it's an option to us if we're ever stuck.

vlsgrl, ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. You enter it in your cell's phone book with the number of your emergency contact. That way, if you are unable to talk (i.e., unconscious!) EMS can find your emergency contact without having to wonder which name they should call. We're going to tell the kids to use ICE 1, ICE 2, and ICE 3.

[Amber_student_nurse]

The ICE motion has travelled all the way over to Australia as well. I have it in my phone -- it was on our local news about a year ago. I think it's a great if it works.

[babynurselsa, RN]

Our local EMS and news stations covered it last year or so and encourage it. The only times that I have had patients that it would have been useful for they didn't come in with cell phones though. Go Figure.

[ERnursing4me]

we use ice in north carolina...not sure if it has ever been used but it is on my husband's cell phone and mine..

[Markthemalenurse]

We have ICE in PA and I am going to ICE my phone right now.

[MomNRN, BSN, RN]

It does seem like a good idea, but it seems like every John Doe patient I had, didn't have a phone on him. Either the phone went flying into the ditch from the car accident, or it was in the briefcase that stayed in the car and went to the towing company, or it was in the purse that the police kept, or on and on.

I have tried to use it, but often the phone is lost during a true vehicle-related emergency.

Also, I have had several patients who put family members' phone numbers into their speed dial memory. When that phone is lost, they have no idea of the phone number. It can be frustrating for the patient and the nurse.

[mtnmom]

thank you! I was not familiar with this, but intend to program ICE into all of my family's phones. I am going to suggest it to other family members as well.

[ernurse4ill]

What exactly is this? I have never heard of it.

Vlsgrl, ICE stands for IN CASE of EMERGENCY... you list your contacts in your cell phones as ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc and the theory is that if you are injured or ill, they can look at your cell phone to be able to contact your next of kin etc. I have it in mine and my husband's also. Not sure how widely used it is, but I believe it will eventually catch on. :wink2:

[goats'r'us, ASN, RN]

i just did it then. made my sister #1 with both mobile and home numbers, and my mum and dad #2 with home, mobile and work numbers, and nicknamed them *sister's name*(sister) and *parents names*(mum and dad)

[bidimom]

I know alot of EMS use it and we use it in the ED when we need to find a name of a patient of need an emergency contact for the patient. I personally have ICE in my telephone and would hope that EMS would look for it

[Quailfeathers]

I hear this about a year ago (I'm in Calif.) and included it in my cell. I didn't hear about making it ICE #1, 2, etc. however. I'm not sure how widely it's used, but it's a great idea and I hope if it's needed someone will know what ICE is.