Metropol

Don't know if you have seen this, but it certainly seems to be a good idea.

Following the disaster in London . . .

East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency ( ICE ) " campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston. The idea is that you store the word " I C E " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency".

In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do.

Please will you also email this to everybody in your address book, it won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest.

For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

In case of mobile phone frying brain, please contact next of kin...

I'm watching this suggestion with interest, having now had half a dozen copies of the e-mail about it.

Let's see to what extent it catches on.

I'm currently fairly happy that any emergency person who goes through my phone alphabetically will get to "Home" before they get to "Ice".

For more information, the official site is here, and the press releases and stuff are on the East Anglian NHS Trust website.

Nick Harvey wrote:I'm watching this suggestion with interest, having now had half a dozen copies of the e-mail about it.

Let's see to what extent it catches on.

I'm currently fairly happy that any emergency person who goes through my phone alphabetically will get to "Home" before they get to "Ice".

My colleague lost a phone on the London Underground last year, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a call from someone who found it, and had the presense of mind to use the "last number dialled" - which reached me.

My sister and a colleague both sent me this this morning and I'd like to think lots of people take it up. It makes a lot of sense.

I also have Home in my phone. I've yet to decide whether to add an ICE entry.

Actually, I've always carried emergency contact details (clearly marked as such) in my purse anyway. Of course, I don't really carry anything else in my purse except money - I guess if someone had to search through a load of receipts and cards and stuff to find it, then it might not be quite so practical.