u3a

Yateley and District

Keeping Safe

ICE – In Case of Emergency

If you have a medical emergency and paramedics are called or you have to go hospital and you are unable to communicate with the medical staff, do you carry information that would allow them to find your medication or contact your next of kin? Here are several suggestions.

Add Emergency Contacts to your Smartphone Address Book

Open your mobile phone’s address book and add ICE with the name and contact details of your emergency contacts. For example:

  • -ICE Partner
  • -ICE Son
  • -ICE Daughter
  • -ICE Dave Smith

Put a dash in front of the letters ICE and it will appear at the top of your phone list. Add several contacts from different locations to make sure that someone is available.

This assumes that the Emergency Services can get access to your phone. What if you are not in a position to give them the password?

Update the ICE Feature in Your Smartphone

Smartphones have a feature known as “ICE” or “In Case of Emergency.” which will let you add a list of emergency contacts to your phone that will be available on your Lock Screen without inputting your password. You may also be able to add personal details, medical information, medication and allergies.

All phones are slightly different and are regularly being updated so the following gives a guide of what you have to do. Contact the Web Manager if you think the information can be improved.

Always add more than one emergency contact if possible because your first choice may not be available AND add relevant health data such as allergies, medications etc.

Android

  • Go into Settings
  • Go into ‘Emergency Information’ or ‘Safety and Emergency’, or ‘My Information’ or ‘Safety’’
  • Go to ‘Emergency Contacts’ or ‘Add Emergency Contact’ and add your emergency contacts. 
  • Go to ‘Medical Info’ and add your medication.
  • Ensure that ‘Show on Lock Screen’ is enabled so your emergency information can be viewed on the Lock Screen. 
  • Alternative (Contacts App): Some versions of Android may allow you to add ICE information through your Contacts app, making it accessible from the Lock Screen.

iPhone

  • Go to Settings
  • Got to Apps, then Health, then Medical ID.
  • Add/Edit: Edit your Medical ID to include medications etc.
  • Ensure you select to ‘Show When Locked’ for Emergency access, and ‘share during emergency call’ so emergency services sea your Medical ID data.  This ensures that first responders can access your Medical ID without unlocking your phone.
  • Add ‘Emergency Contacts’ – add more than one.
  • Include medical details. 
  • Emergency SOS (in settings) is useful as it displays the contacts you have chosen in Health (above), but also gives options on how you want to be able to contact emergency services from your phone automatically eg you can enable ‘call with 5 button presses’.

If You Lose Your Phone

And someone finds it they can use the ICE feature to ring one of your emergency contacts to tell them they have found your phone.

Update Your ‘Emergency Contact’ in Your Yateley & District u3a Membership Record

  • You can update this yourself via the Members Portal.
  • Or use our General Enquiries contact form and we will add it for you. Quote your name,  membership number (if known) and address and the emergency contact details you would like added. Please ensure that you have permission from your Emergency Contact(s) for their details to be held by us.
  • Group Leaders may then be able to access this information in an emergency.

The Low Tech Option!

Fill in a card or a piece of paper with the following details and keep it in your handbag or wallet. And keep it up to date!

  • Your Details
    • Name, address, DOB, phone number, email (you may not want to add all these details)
  • Your Emergency Contact(s) details – have more than one
    • Name, relationship, phone, email
  • Your medical condition(s), current medication and any allergies

Pre-printed cards will be available at the monthly meeting or by contacting our Chair, Doug Prewer

To be on the safe side do all of the above!

Another Idea

MedicAlert offers a distinctive bracelet or necklace showing your medical information making it easily accessible to emergency responders.  There is an annual charge. Please note that Yateley & District u3a are not endorsing this product and alternatives are available - we include it here just for awareness.