Useless Information

Before just chucking the card, I'd check with a police board and first responder board (fire and EMS) they may not use the medical info but the ICE could be very helpful.

when working on the ambulance on the occasions that the person were unconscious, if the wallet did have the info, the police department would call the person listed.

I did check on cell phones for ICE never did see one. But a lot of times, HOME is listed..that works just as well )

Also, in my community we check the car seats if an infant/toddler or young child is involved and the person driving was unconscious. A lot of people have a sticker on the corificeat (somewhere that someone just looking in the window wouldn't see) with all the important info on the child..age, current weight/height, docs name and number and the "to contact" person and/or parents name. THAT came in very handy for me once and several times for fellow EMS workers. I want to say the acrynomn is WHALE..or WAITE..can't recall.

Blood type is almost useless-we would rarely transfuse without a type and cross.

What is ICE?

What is ICE?

I think it stands for "In Case of Emergency."

I was pretty much thinking the same thing as many of you have answered.

OK, so how about an allergy or MedicAlert bracelet or other medical jewelry? Do you ever really need to have that?

*Asked while tossing junk out of purse with gleeful abandon*

What is ICE?

It's an acronym you are supposed to put in front of the name of someone you want called in an emergency. Stands for "In Case of Emergency."

In systems I have worked family contact is PD's gig, besides with HIPAA I don't feel comfortable contacting family anymore. Sad but true.

OK, so how about an allergy or MedicAlert bracelet or other medical jewelry? Do you ever really need to have that?

I can only answer for the EMT standpoint in regards to an allergy alert or medicalert bracelet/necklase..YES!

We (my ambulance associattion) always check for those things. They are very helpful and important in the field. If you have a life threatening allergy or a medical condition, you should have something identifying it in case of emergency and you can't speak.

I don't see why it would hurt. Yes, maybe in a trauma situation the wallet may not be in one piece/may not be on the pt, but what could it hurt having it just in case it was useful in that particular situation.

My hubby and I have ICE on our phones, because neither of us list "home" as a number!

My Dad also uses ICE for his s/o because he, too, doesn't have "home" in the address book.

In my mom's area of FL they developed a program to relay information for seniors who may not be able to communicate the information in an emergency. It is a distinctive "pill bottle" containing a rolled sheet of paper with all essential medical info on it - allergies, medical conditions, meds taken, emergency contact, name of primary physician. They are instructed to keep this vial on the top shelf of the refrigerator door, with a sticker on the outside. This way all emergency personnel know (as they are part of the program) to grab this if the patient is unable to communicate.

I think this is very useful in an area where many have no local relatives.