Legislator Horsley, Sheriff DeMarco “In Case of Emergency – Call ICE”
Program To Assist First Responder Personnel In Emergency Response Situations
ICE-Acronym Enables First Responders To Contact Next Of Kin In Emergency
Lindenhurst, New York – Today, Legislator Horsley announced a resolution creating the Suffolk County In Case of Emergency “ICE” system, a communication system that allows emergency personnel to identify victims and contact their next of kin to obtain important medical information. Horsley’s resolution directs the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) to develop a public education program that encourages the public to insert the acronym ICE in front of an emergency contact or next of kin within their cell phone address book. On Thursday FRES Commissioner Joe Williams expressed his support for the ICE public safety initiative. Today both Suffolk County Sheriff DeMarco and the Suffolk County PBA announced their endorsement of Legislator Horsley’s ICE public safety initiative.
Horsley stated, “In the event of an emergency every second is precious time that can mean the difference between life and death, by educating the public about how to be prepared for such an emergency we are trying to do our part to save as many lives as possible. Programming the number of your emergency contact into your cellular phone is a simple, life-saving step that all of us can take.”
Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, who supports the “ICE” concept, noted, “Legislator Horsley’s initiative is a simple common sense tool that could save lives. I urge all Suffolk County residents who have cell phones to utilize this important program. For anyone that doesn’t have a cell phone the Sheriff’s Office provides In Case of Emergency Medical Identification Cards that contains critical information for first responders.”
Noel DiGerolamo, 2nd Vice President, Suffolk County PBA, “The Suffolk County PBA is proud to support Legislator Horsley’s “ICE”, or In Case of Emergency cell phone resolution. Just enter the acronym ICE with a name and phone number into your cell phone address book. This will be the person contacted in case of an emergency, and they may be able to assist emergency personnel in the event you are incapacitated. It takes only a minute to save a life, and it may be yours.”
In emergency situations, contacts listed under “ICE” can be contacted by emergency medical service providers to inform them of a family member or friend’s emergency situation as well as to acquire pertinent medical information. This simple action is a critical one in situations where individuals are incapacitated and unable to provide information themselves.
The “ICE” cell phone concept was developed by a Cambridge paramedic in 2005 to assist paramedics dealing with critically injured persons. The idea gained momentum after the London terrorist attacks, and has recently become an international issue. Further establishing the need for such a program, Vodaphone, a major European wireless provider, found that more than 75% of people who carry cell phones do not have any information on who should be contacted in emergencies. In the United States alone there are over 192 million cell phones that could be programmed with an “ICE” number.
Horsley stated, “The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 900,000 emergency room patients could not provide emergency contact information to medical personnel. That is 900,000 people who may have been in mortal danger, and 900,000 people with families who could not be notified. By simply using the edit functions on your cell phone you can type the letters ICE in front of your emergency contact, i.e. “ICE Jane Doe,” and that is all we have to do to save countless lives.”
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