Post by Administrators on Aug 1, 2005 9:23:34 GMT -5
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday July 29, 2005
MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Steve Lyle (800) 334-3473
Email: slyle@ehsf.org
HARRISBURG, PA Area Emergency Medical Service Providers are urging the public to "ICE" their cell phones. This doesn't mean put your cell phone in the freezer, it simply means that you should add a phone entry for In Case of Emergency (ICE) and a phone number which may benefit EMS providers should they need to contact someone in case of an emergency. The
ICE concept was the brainchild of Cambridge-based paramedic Bob Brotchie, who works for the East Angi ian Ambulance NHS Trust. It has gained widespread coverage in part by EMS response to the London bombings.
The Emergency Health Services Federation (EHSF) has fielded numerous requests from area providers to make this better known to the public. Steve Lyle, Executive Director of the EHSF advises that although it does not happen often, that an individual doesn't have identification, it does happen.
Lyle continues, "I believe that more young people, who may not yet have their driver's license for identification, are carrying cell phones. This could be a very valuable tool. Perhaps the EMS provider will be too busy treating the patient to look for a cell phone, but it may be a tool for use of Emergency Department staff after arrival at the hospital." Although not widely used in the US
yet, it should gain acceptance.
So how can you get started? Simply type the acronym ICE followed by a contact name (for example, ICE - Mom or ICE - David) into the address book of your mobile phone. Tell your ICE contact that you have nominated them. Additional information on the ICE initiative is available on-line at www.icecontact.com/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday July 29, 2005
MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:
Steve Lyle (800) 334-3473
Email: slyle@ehsf.org
AREA EMS PROVIDERS URGE CELL PHONE USERS TO "ICE IT"
HARRISBURG, PA Area Emergency Medical Service Providers are urging the public to "ICE" their cell phones. This doesn't mean put your cell phone in the freezer, it simply means that you should add a phone entry for In Case of Emergency (ICE) and a phone number which may benefit EMS providers should they need to contact someone in case of an emergency. The
ICE concept was the brainchild of Cambridge-based paramedic Bob Brotchie, who works for the East Angi ian Ambulance NHS Trust. It has gained widespread coverage in part by EMS response to the London bombings.
The Emergency Health Services Federation (EHSF) has fielded numerous requests from area providers to make this better known to the public. Steve Lyle, Executive Director of the EHSF advises that although it does not happen often, that an individual doesn't have identification, it does happen.
Lyle continues, "I believe that more young people, who may not yet have their driver's license for identification, are carrying cell phones. This could be a very valuable tool. Perhaps the EMS provider will be too busy treating the patient to look for a cell phone, but it may be a tool for use of Emergency Department staff after arrival at the hospital." Although not widely used in the US
yet, it should gain acceptance.
So how can you get started? Simply type the acronym ICE followed by a contact name (for example, ICE - Mom or ICE - David) into the address book of your mobile phone. Tell your ICE contact that you have nominated them. Additional information on the ICE initiative is available on-line at www.icecontact.com/