Eight out of ten people aren’t carrying information that would help if they were involved in an accident. Storing next-of-kin details in your mobile phone can assist the emergency services if you’re unable to tell them who to contact.

How does it work?

Simply use your mobile’s phone book to store the name and number of someone who should be contacted if you have an emergency – but add the letters ICE in front of their name.

ICE stands for "In Case of Emergency": it’s what the emergency services will look for if you’re involved in an accident and have your mobile phone with you. This straightforward idea was developed by the East Anglian Ambulance Trust and is supported by Vodafone.

Getting started

On most mobile phones you simply need to select "Contacts" and choose "Add New Contact", then enter the letters "ICE" next to the name, followed by the telephone number of your next of kin. Make sure you choose a number that’s easy to get in touch with – a home number could be useless in an emergency if the person works full time. We recommend that you enter daytime and evening numbers where this is possible.

What should I do next?

Make sure the person whose name and number you are giving has agreed to be your "ICE partner". You should also make sure your ICE partner has a list of people to contact on your behalf, such as your place of work. In addition, they’ll need to know about any medical conditions that could affect your emergency treatment, including allergies or medication. It's as simple as that, and for more than one contact name you can use ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

If you’re under 18, your ICE partner should be your mother, your father or an immediate member of your family authorised to make decisions on your behalf. Friends and other relatives won’t be able to make decisions for you if you’re admitted to hospital.

Storing an ICE number makes it easier for everyone if you’re involved in an accident. It only takes a few seconds, so do it today - please.