Imagine... you have had an accident and yet not a friend or relative in sight. You are found and ambulance staff riffle through your pockets to identify you as well as who to contact. The only things you have on you is a pocket full of cash and your mobile. Whats their next move in getting you identified and contacting those needing to know of your accident? ICE!!

This concept was first created in the early 2000s. Research carried out at this time by Vodafone showed that fewer than 25% of people carry any details of who they would like telephoned following a serious accident or emergency. In May 2005 with the aid of British paramedic Bob Brotchie, the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston in association with Vodafone's annual life savers award the East Anglian Ambulance Service launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign in the hope of rectifying this situation. When interviewed on July 12, 2005 on the BBC Radio 4 Today program, Brotchie said: "I was reflecting on some difficult calls I've attended, where people were unable to speak to me through injury or illness and we were unable to find out who they were. I discovered that many people, obviously, carry mobile phones and we were using them to discover who they were. It occurred to me that if we had a uniform approach to searching inside a mobile phone for an emergency contact then that would make it easier for everyone. "The simple idea is that you store the word "ICE" 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 as simple as that, and for more than one contact name you can use ICE1, ICE2, and ICE3 etc.The Scouting Association and the Guide Association implemented this idea straight away. They encouraged all the Cubs, Brownies, Scouts, Guides, Explorers and Rangers that owned mobile phones to add an ICE number. They though this would be especially useful for the old youngsters when out on expeditions if they got into difficulties. Add your ICE number to your phone now. It will only take a couple of minutes of your time and could save so much time later if YOU have an emergency. Let your friends and family know and encourage them to do the same and mail this article to them.

Jason Roberts and Sara Parry