ICE
‘You just never know’
Have you ever considered how emergency responders will gain access to critical information about you, your next of kin and your current health care? Have you got your most important information stored in one place that is readily accessible and known to your loved ones?
We are all in “the line” without knowing it. We never know how many people are before us. We cannot move to the back of the line. We cannot step out of the line. We cannot avoid the line.
Statistics
Vodaphone research suggested in 2015 that fewer than 25% of people carry any details of emergency contacts leaving first responders with the difficult task of identifying a person and contacting loved ones.
Tellthem4Me® survey results (January 2021) indicated that:
- 88% of respondents did not carry a paper-based list of emergency contacts in their wallet or purse.
- 52% carried no information about existing health conditions or medications.
ABS tell us that there were 169 301 deaths in Australia in 2019 (ABS) including:
- 3318 people dying by suicide (Lifeline)
- 1106 dying in road accidents (National Road Safety Strategy) and
- 183 workers losing their lives at work with 114 435 claims being made for compensation for injuries or disease sustained in the workplace (Safe Work Australia)
Covid 19 has claimed more than 4 million lives worldwide and if you contract it, you may be hospitalised with no guarantee that you will recover (however young and healthy you may be). This is isolating, lonely and anxiety ridden for both patient and family members and all too often, there is no time or opportunity to say a final goodbye.
ICE Card
If you have been involved in a major accident and have suffered significant trauma, the golden hour is precious and could be the difference between saving and losing your life
Adding ICE contacts to your phone is unreliable. Your phone may have a flat battery, be locked or broken and different phones work differently, this wastes precious time
Solution – Complete, download, print and place your free ICE Card next to your primary ID in your wallet or purse. This is where first responders will go to identify you if you cannot communicate
ICE File
If your affairs are not in order, loved ones will struggle to make decisions on your behalf for a time when you can’t which will bring increased stress, worry and heartache
Recording your essential and non-essential information in your ICE File – a mini version of a full membership which includes the most important information from All About Me, My Family, My Health Care, My Insurance, My Estate and My Wishes
Solution – Complete, download, print and store your ICE File somewhere safe. Tell your loved ones that you have recorded some important information and where you have stored it.
For more information, refer to FAQ’s ICE
