One of the more comforting aspects of the modern cell phone is that it can be used in an emergency, even if it is locked and you do not know the password. It allows anyone to ring 111, but you can also programme it to allow calls to designated people, such as close friends or relatives – your ICE (in case of emergency) numbers.
If you open your locked phone it will come up with a screen requiring your password or biometric unlock feature such as your faceprint or fingerprint. There is also a tab for “Emergency call”. Pressing that tab opens the keypad to dial 111, plus a list of your ICE contacts.
This is particularly important if you are in shock or unconscious following an accident as emergency services can use your phone to contact your ICE person to determine if there you have any specific medical conditions or requirements they should know about. In some circumstances that could be a matter of life or death.
Setting up the ICE numbers is relatively easy, but the system differs between Android based phones and Apple iPhones.
Android: Go to your “Contacts” app and press on the “Groups” tab followed by the “Emergency contacts” tab which brings up a screen with a tab to “Add emergency contact”. This opens your “Contacts” list from which you can pick one or more people as ICE contacts. Press “Done” to save these entries. In addition you can go back and press on your profile tab for a “Medical Info” tab which can be used to fill in any specific medical conditions.
Apple: Setting up ICE with Apple uses the “Health” app, not the Contacts app. Open the “Health” app, tap your profile picture (or the logo for your profile image) then select “Medical ID”. Then tap “Edit”, scroll down to “Emergency Contacts”, and tap “Add Emergency Contact”. Choose a contact from your list and select their relationship to you. As with Android you can also add specific medical conditions. Finally, tap “Done” to save your changes.
If you cannot manage these instructions it might pay to get one of your children or grandchildren to help, or come along to one of our Tea and Tech sessions (click here or visit www.acwellington.org.nz/events/teatech/ for details)
It would be a good idea to contact those you have selected as your ICE contacts to let them know they are on your list.
Let us hope that you are never in a situation that requires someone to use your ICE numbers. But it is always good to know that the service is available, “In Case of Emergency”.