If I Need Help Tags Provide Life Saving Information For People With Autism

This week we’re honored to have a guest post from Erin Wilson, founder of the non-profit organization If I Need Help and creator of an entire line of If I Need Help wearable QR codes for people with Autism.  Here’s Erin’s story…

My son Jay who has severe Autism was lost at school before and another time at an amusement park.  Thankfully, he was quickly found.  Studies report that wandering is the only cause of death due to Autism and that roughly half of people who have Autism wander from safe places.  The majority being people who have low or nonverbal ability.  My husband and I wanted to create a way to let people who see our son if he is lost to know that he is a person who needs help and then tell them how to help him.  So we started a Non Profit named If I Need Help making personal wearable QR codes, when scanned or manually entered it links to a live profile that can be edited in real time. The code can be printed out with the free membership. Also the Emergency Q&A can be filled in at the Caregiver’s leisure and emailed to first responders during a crisis.

We offer many different ways to wear the code:  patches, pins, clips, keychains, custom iD tags for shoes or necklaces, seat belt alerts and ID cards.  Custom Temporary tats will be out soon.  This way of identification and information is now also helping people with mental illness, memory care or with physical conditions in which they may need help during critical situations. Please go to IfiNeedHelp.org to learn more.

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together! We’ll talk later…

Introducing… The ICE My Phone Kit!

Buy Paperback Edition $14.99         Buy Downloadable Edition $5

More Amazing Things You Can Do In 5 Minutes Or Less

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your Smartphone

How To Download and Back Up Your Digital Photos

How To Fill Out Your Kid’s Emergency Contact Card

_________________________________________________

The Book Inspired By The Blog. The Backup Plan 3.0

The Backup Plan 3.0, is filled with quick, easy, 5 minute steps you can take right now, to get everything that’s important to you organized, safe, sound and accessible.  Each section covers a different area, from backing up and fixing family photos, home movies and music, to vital documents, medical and financial information and even getting your digital life in order.  This special Bonus Edition includes 7 downloadable Bonus Books.  Paperback Edition $24.99   Buy now at Amazon.com  Downloadable PDF Edition $8.00  Buy Now       Read more about it

Bulk orders & customization available for your company/organization. Contact us for more details.

No one will ever forget the footage from Superstorm Sandy of family after family searching through the wreckage of their homes for their keepsakes, only to find their most cherished possessions completely ruined. Don’t let this tragedy happen to YOUR parents. In this book you’ll learn how to help them back up their photos, videos, vinyl albums & address books, how to record and safeguard their vital information, medical history and vital documents. $12.95 Buy now at Amazon.com Read more about it

 

Raise Money & Save Lives!  Free Customized Editions of our books make a great fundraiser for your organization, company, or an extra stream of income for you.  

Your Business Continuity Plan May Be Missing Something…  Like your employees, for instance?  If your city is struck by a tornado, earthquake or other disaster, it isn’t just your company that will be affected – so will your employees.  That’s why you need to make sure they’re as prepared for an emergency as YOU are.  Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.  Read More About It

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Free Resources

Mobile App Helps Emergency Personnel Treat Patients With Autism

Updated On 3/2/21

ICE4Autism provides person-specific, actionable information for quicker more efficient and effective treatment of individuals with ASD

The successful outcome of any interaction between a subject/casualty and first responders depends, along with other variables, on the emergency response team’s rapid access to critical details about the individual right inside their Galaxy or iPhone. This is particularly true when the person has a unique set of needs about which the first responders may be unaware – such as those associated with autism.

Emergency response personnel are tasked with responding to ALL calls, including those involving individuals with special needs. They are expected to respond not only professionally but compassionately, an expectation that implies a seemingly allusive understanding of person-specific needs and sensitivities.

AUTISM

The Centers for Disease Control describes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as: “developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests”. Autism is a ‘spectrum disorder’ that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees meaning that no two people with autism are alike. Furthermore, the prevalence of autism is not affected by race, region, or socio-economic status.

Individuals with an ASD often suffer from additional co-morbid diagnoses which may include: allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, and more. And, in contrast to physical disabilities, in many cases without explicit knowledge or information, an onlooker will have no idea that a person has autism — and it is, therefore, often referred to as an “invisible disability”.

Since autism was first diagnosed in the U.S. its incidence has climbed from one in 10,000 to one in 68 children making it the country’s single fastest growing developmental disability. As children with autism grow up, they do not “outgrow” their autism, but rather develop, to varying degrees, an array of skills to cope with their unique communication, social and behavioral differences.

FIRST RESPONDERS AND AUTISM

Current statistics estimate that over the next 10 years half a million teens with autism will transition into adulthood. Furthermore, research has shown that individuals with autism are seven to 10 times more likely than their neurotypical peers to interact with first responders. Therefore the probability of interactions between emergency response personnel and those with autism increases with each passing day.

What does this mean in practical terms? Let us consider the following scenario:

A 9-1-1 call comes in that a young adult, 6 foot tall, 250 lb male has been involved in a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident. He is conscious but not responding to the good Samaritans’ questions.

When the first responders arrive, they start by asking the young man his name… no response. They ask him if he is in pain…No response. He becomes agitated and starts flapping his hands rapidly and repetitively.

Has the young man not heard the questions? Does he not understand English? Has the crash caused head trauma resulting in disorientation? Perhaps he is diabetic and low blood sugar is causing his confusion?

What should the first responders do? In the worst case scenario, they are left to guess, make assumptions and precede based on standard operating procedures that may, or may not, be the best course of treatment. Or, in the best case scenario, they have easy and efficient access to the information about the young man that would help them understand his needs and treat him properly.

THE ICE CONCEPT

The “ICE” — In Case of Emergency – concept is the brain-child of Bob Brotchie, a former senior paramedic and current psychotherapy counsellor. A combination of Bob’s professional experience and his own emergency incident, led to his “lightbulb” moment: a uniform method adopted by both the public and first responders for providing and accessing emergency contact information in case of emergency – ICE.  The goal was for people to enter their emergency contact(s) information into their mobile phones using the ICE preface thereby informing first responders who to contact.

In 2005, only a few months after Bob first conceived of the idea, ICE went viral. It got the attention of both the general public and of the first responder community. As time passed and mobile technology evolved, so did the use and implementation of ICE on mobile devices. The public’s reliance on smartphones, along with their becoming an essential accessory to be kept on-hand at all times, yielded an array of ICE mobile apps. This 21^st century implementation of the ICE concept broadened its capability and value: in addition to emergency contact information, many of the apps also store a variety of medical history, medications, allergy, insurance and other details that can help first responders in their assessment and treatment of injured, confused or unconscious patients.

Historically, first responders have looked for a wallet card or document in a subject’s wallet; now, with the advent of ICE apps, they have an additional potential resource on the person’s smartphone.

AUTISM, ICE4Autism AND THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

Easy and efficient access to specific information about an autistic person’s communication challenges and needs, their unique behaviors and triggers, sensitivities, allergies, medical information and their emergency contacts can dramatically improve the outcome of any emergency response interaction. ICE4Autism – the only autism-specific in case of emergency (ICE) mobile app – gives people on the spectrum and first responders a practical solution they’ve never had before. Instead of relying on efforts to directly communicate with the person – who may be unconscious, altered and/or have communication challenges – first responders can use ICE4Autism to quickly obtain the person-specific, actionable information they need to treat the individual appropriately.

Returning to our scenario, the ICE4Autism app could inform the responders that yes, in fact, the young man had heard their questions and did understand English, but that he needed a bit more time to process the questions and to respond. They might also learn that no, he does not have diabetes, but that he does have sensory integration dysfunction making the sirens and/or bright lights a contributing factor to his agitation and difficulty focusing. They may be informed that the repetitive hand flapping is a calming mechanism he implements and that they should allow him to continue unless there is a critical reason to make him stop. The app would also tell them how to contact the people who (most likely) know him best, can help with additional information, treatment decisions and, most importantly, can come to his side and provide him with the love and support that everyone needs and benefits from in an emergency.

CONCLUSION

To overcome the unique challenges presented by the increasing incidence of interactions between the first responder and autism communities, both parties benefit from the exploitation of newly-available 21^st century tools. The broad utilization of the ICE4Autism mobile app throughout the autism community will enhance first responders’ abilities to provide needs-aware and person-specific care thereby improving outcomes and quality of care.

Emergency personnel have lauded ICE4Autism for its ease-of-use, practicality and innovation. Individuals on the spectrum have expressed their appreciation for app’s elimination of generalizations and assumptions about people with autism by enabling each person to include his/her unique and specific information. And, in awarding ICE4Autism the “Best of ICE” designation, Bob Brotchie, founder of the ICE concept, described the app as: Affordable, intuitive, respectful – and most of all – of value. ICE4Autism is a game-changer for anyone who has the potential to experience difficulties communicating their needs in the emergency scenario.”

Both first responders and members of the autism community should leverage new technologies and forward-thinking solutions to improve the outcomes of their inevitable interactions with each other.  The integration of such tools will enhance the quality of care individuals with autism receive and the ability of first responders to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.

MORE INFORMATION:

On the Web: www.ICE4Autism.com

On the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/ice4autism/id969601780?mt=8

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ice4autism/

On Twitter: @ICE4Autism (https://twitter.com/ICE4Autism)

Wanda Refaely, Founder & Chief ICE Cube: 

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together!

At Your Fingertips | Make Your Smartphone Even Smarter

What if I told you, there was something you have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! At Your Fingertips is an easy to read, easy to use guide that turns your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Paperback Or Instant Download

 

Keep Everything You Love Safe | The Book Inspired By The Blog

Keep Everything You Love Safe, is filled with quick, easy, 5 minute steps you can take right now, to get everything that’s important to you organized, safe, sound and accessible. Each section covers a different area, from backing up and fixing family photos, home movies and music, to vital documents, medical and financial information and even getting your digital life in order. Paperback Or Instant Download

 

Keep The Stuff You Love Safe

How To Save Your Treasured Voice Mail Messages

How To Save Your Home Movies And Videos

How To Archive Your Digital Photos

How To Archive Your Print Photos

How To Make A Home Inventory

How To Get Your Financial Life In Order

How To Preserve Your Family History

How To Back Up Your Facebook Friends List

Turn Your Smartphone Into A Mobile Command Center

How To Backup Your Music, MP3s And Vinyl Albums

How To Access Your Money No Matter Where You Are

How To Make Your ICE Contact Stand Out On A Samsung Galaxy

Did you know that your Samsung Galaxy can save your life?

And it’s not just Galaxies but any kind of smartphone, like the Droid Incredible, Windows Phone or even the iPhone 6.

The secret is letting your phone do the talking for you in an emergency.  And the way to do that, is with ICE.

But what good is an ICE Contact if the people who need that information immediately, can’t find it?

Let’s make sure no one misses it!

Once you finish setting up your ICE Contacts, (you can find out how to do that right here) make it stand out by using the Add Photo function to upload a graphic like the ones on this page.   You can make your own, or download ours from our Free Resources page.  

Once you find the graphic you want, choose Save Target As, to save it to your desktop. 

Then save or send the graphic to the Photos on your phone. 

Open your ICE Contact, Touch the little photo icon, Choose Image, pick the graphic you want and Save.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our other posts including How To Set Up An ICE Contact on your Samsung Galaxy and How To ICE Your iPhone to learn everything you need to know about ICEing your phone.  And while you’re feeling proactive, don’t forget to put ICE Contacts on your spouse’s and kid’s phones too, along with each other’s contact information.   

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together! We’ll talk later…

Introducing… The ICE My Phone Kit!

Buy Paperback Edition $14.99         Buy Downloadable Edition $5

More Amazing Things You Can Do In 5 Minutes Or Less

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your Smartphone

How To Download and Back Up Your Digital Photos

How To Fill Out Your Kid’s Emergency Contact Card

_________________________________________________

The Book Inspired By The Blog. The Backup Plan 3.0

The Backup Plan 3.0, is filled with quick, easy, 5 minute steps you can take right now, to get everything that’s important to you organized, safe, sound and accessible.  Each section covers a different area, from backing up and fixing family photos, home movies and music, to vital documents, medical and financial information and even getting your digital life in order.  This special Bonus Edition includes 7 downloadable Bonus Books. Paperback Edition $24.99   Buy now at Amazon.com  Downloadable PDF Edition $8.00  Buy Now       Read more about it

Bulk orders & customization available for your company/organization. Contact us for more details.

No one will ever forget the footage from Superstorm Sandy of family after family searching through the wreckage of their homes for their keepsakes, only to find their most cherished possessions completely ruined. Don’t let this tragedy happen to YOUR parents. In this book you’ll learn how to help them back up their photos, videos, vinyl albums & address books, how to record and safeguard their vital information, medical history and vital documents. $12.95 Buy now at Amazon.com Read more about it

 

Raise Money & Save Lives!  Free Customized Editions of our books make a great fundraiser for your organization, company, or an extra stream of income for you.  

Your Business Continuity Plan May Be Missing Something…  Like your employees, for instance?  If your city is struck by a tornado, earthquake or other disaster, it isn’t just your company that will be affected – so will your employees.  That’s why you need to make sure they’re as prepared for an emergency as YOU are.  Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.  Read More About It

Like Us On Facebook

Follow Us On Twitter

Watch Our How-To Videos On YouTube

Join Us On Pinterest

Free Resources

The Two Things You Should NEVER put in your ICE Contact

Updated On 3/1/21

Everyone is always telling you what you need to put into your ICE Contact, but it amazes us that they never mention what NOT to put into it.

Maybe they just don’t know…  So I guess it’s up to us to set the record straight.

# 1

Never, never, never put your Social Security Number in the ICE Contact on or iPhone or Galaxy.   Or in your iPhone or Android.  Or in your wallet or any place else where you could misplace it, lose it or where others can see it.

A hospital will either wait for your family to bring it in or can get it from an old record or other legal source.  So just leave it where it is, hopefully in a nice secure place at home, like a locked safe.

#2

Your insurance member number.   Too much personal information is linked to that number to toss it into your phone.  In fact if you have Medicare, your Medicare Member Number is usually based on your Social Security Number.  If you want to include the name of your insurance company in your ICE Contact, that’s fine,  but the actual member numbers or other information can wait until your family has arrived or you have regained consciousness.

Repeat After Me.

Social Security Cards and Insurance Member Numbers belong in a nice secure place at home.  That place does not include my phone, my ICE Contact or my wallet.  They only time these cards should EVER leave the house is when I’m going to a brand new doctor or to the hospital under my own power, after which they shall return back home to their safe, secure place as quickly as possible.   

While you’re here, be sure to check out our other posts like How To Put An ICE Contact On Your iPhone, or How To ICE Your Samsung Galaxy to learn everything you need to know about ICEing your phone.  And while you’re feeling proactive, don’t forget to put ICE Contacts on your spouse’s and kid’s phones too, along with each other’s contact information.   

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together!

The ICE My Phone Kit

Did you know your smartphone can save your life? It can also save your spouse’s life, your kid’s lives and the lives of everyone you love! The secret is letting your phone do the talking for you in an emergency. How? With ICE, your in case of emergency contact. In “The ICE My Phone Kit” you’ll find step by step directions for ICEing, iPhones, Galaxies, regular Androids, Windows and even flip phones. Paperback Or Instant Download

At Your Fingertips | Make Your Smartphone Even Smarter

What if I told you, there was something you have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! At Your Fingertips is an easy to read, easy to use guide that turns your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Paperback Or Instant Download

How To Set Up Your ICE Contacts

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your iPhone

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your Samsung Galaxy Phone

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your Android Smartphone

How To Put An ICE Contact & Medical ID On Your Apple Watch

How To Set Up Your Medical ID & ICE Contact On The iPhone

How to put an ICE Contact on your Samsung Galaxy Lock Screen

Can I Put An ICE Contact On A Password Protected iPhone?

How To Find Your Patient’s Medical Information & ICE Contacts On An iPhone.

Cómo Colocar Un En Caso de Contacto de Emergencia En Su Teléfono Celular

Why Are ICE Contacts So Important?

Create An ICE Contact In 2 Minutes

The Two Things You should NEVER put in your ICE Contact

Don’t Carry A Wallet? Here are 20 Places To Put Your Emergency Wallet Card

Keep The People You Love Safe

How To Keep Your Medical History At Your Fingertips

How To Create A Family Evacuation Plan

How To Fill Out Your Child’s Emergency Contact Card

8 Fields You Should Add To Your ICE Contact

Updated On 3/2/21

Like most smartphones…

Your iPhone and your Samsung Galaxy let you change, add or create fields inside the contacts on your phone, so that you can customize it as much as you like. 

But what does this have to do with ICE Contacts?  Everything!

Adding new fields gives you a way to pack as much information as possible into your ICE Contact, in a way that makes it easy for emergency personnel to quickly understand and use.  For example, let’s say that you have two ICE Contacts.  One is your mom and the other is your close friend Susan.  If a medical team needs information quickly they’ll probably want to call mom instead of the friend.  Sure you can slip in the word friend next to Susan’s name, but unless you put it in the right way, chances are, it will get cut off or will not be immediately clear to an already overworked ER staff.  

But if you add a Relationship field, the difference between Mom and Friend is unmistakable.  You see where we’re going with this…  

So here are the 8 Fields You Should Add To Your ICE Contact

Relationship

Already covered this one.  The best part about the Relationship field is that many phones already have it in your contact by default.

Social Media Links

Adding your ICE Contact’s social media links or screen names gives you and emergency personnel another way to reach them.  Many times Wi-Fi will be up and running even though regular cell or phone service is not.  A quick DM (direct message) or Tweet might be the only way to get someone’s attention, fast.

Alternate Phone Numbers

If your contact is at different locations on different days, using the alternate phone numbers fields are a great way to go. Either type in the location/day next to the number, or if your phone doesn’t let you do that, put the days/locations in the notes area of your contact.

Notes

The notes field is a great place to store everything that doesn’t fit into your regular contact.  Like your prescription medications, allergies and important bits about your medical history.

Physician 

If you have more than one main physician or want your physician’s name and number to stand out, most phones will let you create an original field that you can call anything you want.  Since physician probably won’t be in the drop down of fields to choose from, just add a new field, name it physician (or physician 1 and physician 2) and type in your doctor’s name and number.

Insurance Company 

Same thing with your insurance company.  If you want to include it, the name of your insurer will probably fit into the Notes section, but if you want it to have it’s own field or have an alternate insurer, just create it like the Physician field above.  Just make sure you don’t include your insurance member number or your social security number.

Important 

Have information you want to highlight?  Consider creating an “Important” field.

Links

One other field to add is Links.  In it you can include links to your medical history form and any other information that you feel you need to remember yourself, or communicate to emergency personnel.  

Need to know how to add a field to your phone?  Check out these other posts on our blog,  Adding a field to your iPhone or Adding a field to your Samsung Galaxy.

And while you’re here, be sure to check out our other posts like How To Put An ICE Contact On Your iPhone, or How To ICE Your Samsung Galaxy to learn everything you need to know about ICEing your phone.  And while you’re feeling proactive, don’t forget to put ICE Contacts on your spouse’s and kid’s phones too, along with each other’s contact information.   

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together!

The ICE My Phone Kit

Did you know your smartphone can save your life? It can also save your spouse’s life, your kid’s lives and the lives of everyone you love! The secret is letting your phone do the talking for you in an emergency. How? With ICE, your in case of emergency contact. In “The ICE My Phone Kit” you’ll find step by step directions for ICEing, iPhones, Galaxies, regular Androids, Windows and even flip phones. Paperback Or Instant Download

At Your Fingertips | Make Your Smartphone Even Smarter

What if I told you, there was something you have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! At Your Fingertips is an easy to read, easy to use guide that turns your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Paperback Or Instant Download

How To Set Up Your ICE Contacts

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your iPhone

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your Samsung Galaxy Phone

How To Set Up An ICE Contact On Your Android Smartphone

How To Put An ICE Contact & Medical ID On Your Apple Watch

How To Set Up Your Medical ID & ICE Contact On The iPhone

How to put an ICE Contact on your Samsung Galaxy Lock Screen

Can I Put An ICE Contact On A Password Protected iPhone?

How To Find Your Patient’s Medical Information & ICE Contacts On An iPhone.

Cómo Colocar Un En Caso de Contacto de Emergencia En Su Teléfono Celular

Why Are ICE Contacts So Important?

Create An ICE Contact In 2 Minutes

The Two Things You should NEVER put in your ICE Contact

Don’t Carry A Wallet? Here are 20 Places To Put Your Emergency Wallet Card

Keep The People You Love Safe

How To Keep Your Medical History At Your Fingertips

How To Create A Family Evacuation Plan

How To Fill Out Your Child’s Emergency Contact Card

How Much Medical History Should You Put In Your ICE Contact?

How Much Medical History Should You Put In Your ICE Contact?

Any information a doctor would need to know about your history, in order to save your life.  

When a patient is brought into the emergency room unconscious, aside from obvious injuries, the doctors caring for him basically have no information about their patient.  They have no idea what he might be allergic to, what medications he’s taking, or the surgery he had the month before. 

THAT is the information that you need to put into your ICE Contact.  

Here’s a real life example of why that’s so important.  

Elaine was an active seventy-one year old living on her own in Chicago.  One day while getting ready to take a bath, she slipped and fell, striking her head and mouth on the side of the tub.  Her neighbors realized they hadn’t seen her all day and called the paramedics, who went in and found her, conscious, but unable to speak.

Elaine had previously been a patient at the hospital she was taken to, she had private insurance, Medicare and everything she needed.  Or so she thought.  Even though she was stable, injuries to her mouth made her unable to speak or swallow, so she was unable to speak for herself.  And that’s where things began to go off the rails…

Elaine was my grandma.  Despite the fact that the hospital had my mother’s and my contact information for our home in Los Angeles, the hospital neglected to call us.  By the time they did, Grandma was in critical condition from a drug interaction caused by a medication that they gave her that interacted with one that they didn’t realize she had been taking.  A few hours after the hospital called, she passed away.

We later found that one of the main factors that caused Grandma’s death was the fact that the doctors treating her didn’t have her medical or prescription drug history at their fingertips.

That’s how critical communicating a person’s vital medical information can be.

Your Emergency Medical Information – What To Include In Your ICE Contact 

Here’s the quickest way to figure it out…

Close your eyes for a moment & imagine that you’re sitting in the ER with an injury like a broken arm or that you need emergency surgery.   The doctor – someone who doesn’t know you or your unique medical needs – walks through the door.

What does this doctor need to know about you?   Jot down all of the things that just went through your mind.  Old injuries, allergies, surgeries, anything you think is important.   

Are there any other factors that might impact your care?  Are you on a special diet?  Do you take supplements or anything else that a doctor might need to know to give you the best care possible?

This is also a great exercise to do when setting up your family’s ICE Contacts or filling out their medical history forms. Just imagine them, one by one in the ER and write down everything you would need to tell a doctor about their medical background.  

Having all of this information in your and their ICE Contacts is not only a great way to communicate your medical needs if you’re unable to speak for yourself.  It’s also a great memory jogger to use when visiting a new doctor, or sitting in the ER with your spouse or your children.   

There’s nothing worse than having something on the tip of your tongue and not being able to remember it –except when the word you’re trying to remember is the name of a medication that the emergency room physician needs to save your daughter’s life!

So take a moment to run through this exercise for every member of your immediate family.  That way you’ll be sure to have an ICE Contact that does more than give a hospital your emergency numbers.  It might just give them the information they need to save your life.  Or the life of someone you love.  

While you’re here, stop by our post on How To Create a Medical History, to download our free medical history forms and find out ways to include your entire medical history right inside your ICE Contact.  

Want to learn how to create an awesome ICE Contact?  

Check out our other posts How To Put An ICE Contact On Your iPhone, or How To ICE Your Samsung Galaxy to learn everything you need to know about ICEing your phone.    And don’t forget to put ICE Contacts on your spouse’s and kid’s phones too, along with each other’s contact information.   

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together! We’ll talk later…

Introducing… Connected

Introducing Connected

Purchase Connected @ Amazon.com

More Amazing Things You Can Do In 5 Minutes Or Less

How To Download and Back Up Your Digital Photos

How To Fill Out Your Kid’s Emergency Contact Card

_________________________________________________

Connected | The Book Inspired By The Blog.

What if I told you, there was one thing that you own and probably have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! Introducing Connected, an easy to read, easy to use guide that gives you everything you need to turn your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Purchase Connected @ Amazon.com

How Many ICE Contacts Should You Have?

Good Question!

The hardest part about putting an ICE Contact on your phone is deciding who your contacts will be.  

We always recommend a minimum of two ICE Contacts, just in case emergency personnel can’t reach your first one. Having three or four is even better. But the real answer to the question depends on you and your needs.  

Do you or your spouse travel frequently?  Then you definitely need two or more contacts, just in case your spouse is out of town.  If you’re the one who travels, one of your contacts should include your assistant or a colleague who can help gather the troops if you need help.

Even if you and your spouse don’t travel much — or separately — take a moment to think of a few more people, who you would want to be notified in an emergency.  After all, what if your spouse forgot to charge his phone or worse, is involved in the same emergency that you are?

An ICE Contact should be someone that you want there with you at the hospital or, if you’re seriously injured or unconscious, someone who you would trust to make decisions on your behalf.  Someone very close to you, who you know will drop everything to race to your side and handle things or make sure that your children are taken care of, until your spouse or other relatives arrive.

Anyone that you trust can be your ICE Contact.  But if you choose someone besides your parents or siblings, ask them if they’re comfortable with being your emergency contact.  Some people simply aren’t good in an emergency or wouldn’t want to be responsible for the well being of another person, no matter how much they love you. 

How do you differentiate between the ICE Contacts on your phone?  Simple.  Just make sure you name them ICE 1, ICE2 and so on, in order of preference.  

And while you’re at it, be sure to name one out of town relative or close friend who can be your out of area contact, in case communications in your own city are down.  Many times people will be able to call other cities, even though their own local phones or cell towers are overloaded.

If you travel a great deal for business — especially internationally, we recommend that you put a minimum of four ICE Contacts on your smartphone.  The first should be your spouse or significant other, the second a close relative or friend.  The third contact should be your attorney or business manager and the fourth, a business partner or colleague who can attend to matters if you are temporarily incapacitated or in a location where telecommunications are down.   In this case, you would name the first two ICE Medical 1 and 2, then name the others ICE Legal and ICE Business.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our other posts How To Put An ICE Contact On Your iPhone, or How To ICE Your Samsung Galaxy to learn everything you need to know about ICEing your phone.  And don’t forget to put ICE Contacts on your spouse’s and kid’s phones too, along with each other’s contact information.

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together! We’ll talk later…

Introducing… Connected

Introducing Connected

Purchase Connected @ Amazon.com

More Amazing Things You Can Do In 5 Minutes Or Less

How To Download and Back Up Your Digital Photos

How To Fill Out Your Kid’s Emergency Contact Card

_________________________________________________

Connected | The Book Inspired By The Blog.

What if I told you, there was one thing that you own and probably have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! Introducing Connected, an easy to read, easy to use guide that gives you everything you need to turn your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Purchase Connected @ Amazon.com

How To Choose An ICE Contact

Even though you know you need one…

The hardest part about putting an ICE Contact on your phone can be deciding who your contact will be. 

The GOOD news is, it’s not as hard as you think, even if you aren’t married or your family lives thousands of miles away.

An ICE Contact should be someone that you would want there with you at the hospital, or who, if you’re seriously injured or unconscious, you would trust to make decisions on your behalf.  Someone very close to you, who doesn’t go out of town all the time and who you know will drop everything to race to your side and handle things or make sure that your children are taken care of, until your spouse or other relatives arrive.

Anyone that you trust can be your ICE Contact.  But if you choose someone besides your spouse or your parents ask them if they’re comfortable with it too.  Some people simply aren’t good in an emergency or wouldn’t want to be responsible for the well being of another person, no matter how much they love you or even if they’re related to you. 

If you have any life-threatening allergies or if there is anything in your medical history that an emergency room doctor would absolutely need to know, don’t just put that information into your ICE Contact (you can find out how to do that right here on the blog).  Make sure you also tell the people you’ve named as your contacts where to find that information on your phone.  If you have a lot of information to convey, you can always create a medical information form and save the link to it, inside your contact.  Just make sure your contact knows where it is so they can point that out to emergency personnel.

Are you married?   Then I guess you know who your first contact will be.  But before you just jot down your spouse and no one else as an emergency contact, take a moment to think of a few other people you would want to have as your ICE Contacts just in case.  After all, what if your spouse is out of town, forgot to charge his phone or worse, is involved in the same emergency that you are. 

That’s why we always suggest that people have, at the very least, two ICE Contacts. Preferably, three or four.   Just make sure you name them ICE 1, ICE2 and so on, in order of preference.  

And while you’re at it, be sure to name one out of town relative or close friend who can be your out of area contact, in case communications in your own city are down.  Many times calls to other cities will go through, even though your own local phone networks or cell towers are overloaded.

If you travel a great deal for business — especially internationally, we recommend that you put a minimum of four ICE Contacts on your smartphone.  The first should be your spouse or significant other, the second a close relative or friend.  The third contact should be your attorney or business manager and the fourth, a business partner or colleague who can attend to matters if you are temporarily incapacitated or in a location where telecommunications are down.   How can emergency personnel tell which is which?  Simple.  Just name the first two ICE Medical 1 and 2, then name the others ICE Legal and ICE Business.

 While you’re here, be sure to check out our other ICE Contact posts like How To Put An ICE Contact On Your iPhone, or How To ICE Your Samsung Galaxy to learn everything you need to know about ICEing your phone.   And don’t forget to put ICE Contacts on your spouse’s and kid’s phones too, along with each other’s contact information.   

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together! We’ll talk later…

Introducing… Connected

Purchase Connected @ Amazon.com

More Amazing Things You Can Do In 5 Minutes Or Less

How To Download and Back Up Your Digital Photos

How To Fill Out Your Kid’s Emergency Contact Card

_________________________________________________

Connected | The Book Inspired By The Blog.

What if I told you, there was one thing that you own and probably have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! Introducing Connected, an easy to read, easy to use guide that gives you everything you need to turn your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Purchase Connected @ Amazon.com

How To Fill Out Your Family’s Emergency Contact Cards

Updated On 3/2/21

In the days after September 11th, two thousand, one hundred children were left stranded in daycare.

Why?

Because their parents hadn’t filled out one of the fields on their daycare emergency contact cards.

“Who should we contact if you are not able to pick up your child?”

How could something so basic, strand two thousand children on one of the scariest days in American history?

Fear

The inability or refusal to take two minutes to think through what might happen, if they and their spouse were unable to reach their child.  The ridiculous thing is, it doesn’t even have to take a real emergency for this to happen.  You could be stuck on the freeway, or trapped in an airplane you were certain would arrive on time.

So take a few moments to think about it.  And please, please don’t just jot down the first name that pops into your head!

Imagine that you have an accident or are in the middle of a transportation nightmare and you and your spouse are unable to pick up your child from school one afternoon.  Now imagine that you can’t get to her for two or three days.  Who would you want taking care of her?

Choosing Your Emergency Contacts

You need someone who knows your child extremely well.  Someone who would be able to calm her down and would have the energy to care for her.  Someone who knows what she likes and dislikes.  And, in case of extreme emergency like September 11th, it would really help to have someone with the ability, brains and fortitude to help locate you or your spouse, if overburdened emergency personnel weren’t able to help.

That’s the kind of thought you need to put into emergency planning, especially where your children are concerned.

Medical History

Now what about your child’s medical history?  Some schools or day care centers don’t even provide a card for medical history, or the one they provide might be so sparse that it would be useless in a true medical emergency.  Don’t forget that you can simply create a medical history information sheet for them and see that it’s stored with your child’s records.  That way you can be sure that the information you would want emergency personnel to have in an emergency, will be right at their fingertips.

If you have already completed the section on Medical Information, you already have Medical History Forms for you and your children.  So grab their forms and let’s see how you did with them.

Did you include a current list of chronic conditions, allergies, medications and vitamins along with the dosage?  A list of all of your child’s health providers including specialists, dentists and other professionals who see your child on a regular basis?

Did you jot down things that a nurse or physician might need to know to help calm your child down while treating her, until you’re able to be at the hospital?   Your child’s likes and dislikes, favorite foods or toys or anything else that might help.   No matter how old your child is, kids tend to regress a bit when they’re hurting or frightened, so the information you provide here can go a long way towards keeping them calm and helping the medical team give them the treatment they need until you arrive at the hospital.

Take the emergency contact card from your child’s school or daycare provider and fill it in with your carefully-chosen emergency contacts as well as the information from the medical information form.  Like we said, if there’s not enough room to detail important information, just ask the school to store the medical information form you created earlier along with the emergency card.  And be sure to store the medical information form, or a link to it, in your smartphone in case you need to refer to it in an emergency.

Your Own Emergency Contact Card 

Just because you and your spouse are adults doesn’t mean that you don’t need to take your own emergency cards seriously.  Do we have to remind you about all the runners who have been rushed to the hospital in the middle of a 10K without a scrap of medical information?  Didn’t think so!

The moment you begin a job, register for school or run a marathon, you’re going to have to fill out your own card.  The best way to do it?  Exactly like you did for your kids.

Before you jot down your spouse and no one else as an emergency contact, take some time to think of another person or two, who you would want to be notified in an emergency.  Your spouse might be out of town, stuck with a dead cell phone or worse might be involved in the same emergency.

If that’s the case who would you want to be there with you?  Who would you trust to make decisions for you?  To take care of your children if need be, or keep things going until your spouse or other relatives arrive?

And take the same care with your medical history as you did with your children’s.  If there isn’t enough room on the contact form for allergies, medications or other vital information, attach the medical information form — if you don’t have one you can get one from this post .  Or you can simply attach an additional page of information to make sure your emergency form would actually help in an emergency!

Taking five minutes now to turn your emergency contact card into a truly valuable document, could be one of the smartest things you’ve ever done.

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together!

At Your Fingertips | Make Your Smartphone Even Smarter

What if I told you, there was something you have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! At Your Fingertips is an easy to read, easy to use guide that turns your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Paperback Or Instant Download

Keep Everything You Love Safe | The Book Inspired By The Blog

Keep Everything You Love Safe, is filled with quick, easy, 5 minute steps you can take right now, to get everything that’s important to you organized, safe, sound and accessible. Each section covers a different area, from backing up and fixing family photos, home movies and music, to vital documents, medical and financial information and even getting your digital life in order. Paperback Or Instant Download

Keep The Stuff You Love Safe

How To Save Your Treasured Voice Mail Messages

How To Save Your Home Movies And Videos

How To Archive Your Digital Photos

How To Archive Your Print Photos

How To Make A Home Inventory

How To Get Your Financial Life In Order

How To Preserve Your Family History

How To Back Up Your Facebook Friends List

Turn Your Smartphone Into A Mobile Command Center

How To Backup Your Music, MP3s And Vinyl Albums

How To Access Your Money No Matter Where You Are

How To Fill Out Your Child’s Emergency Contact Card

Updated On 9/28/21

In the days after September 11th, two thousand, one hundred children were left stranded in daycare.

Why?

Because their parents didn’t fill out one of the fields on their daycare emergency contact cards.

 “Who should we contact if you are not able to pick up your child?”

How could something so basic, strand two thousand children on one of the scariest days in American history?

Fear

The inability or refusal to take two minutes to think through what might happen, if they and their spouse were unable to reach their child.  The ridiculous thing is, it doesn’t even have to take a real emergency for this to happen.  You could be stuck on the freeway, or trapped in an airplane you were certain would arrive on time.

And with the way the world has been the last few years — from hurricanes to wildfires, tornadoes and oh yeah, COVID — having emergency contact cards are the perfect way to keep your family safe and connected no matter WHAT is happening around you.

So take a few moments to think about it.  And please, please don’t just jot down the first name that pops into your head!

Imagine that you have an accident or get in the middle of a transportation nightmare and you and your spouse are unable to pick up your child from school that afternoon.  Or for two or three days.  Who would you want taking care of him?

You need someone who knows your child extremely well.  Someone who would be able to calm her down and would have the energy to care for her.  Someone who knows what she likes and dislikes.  And, in case of extreme emergency like September 11^th, it would really help to have someone with the ability, brains and fortitude to help locate you or your spouse, if overburdened emergency personnel weren’t able to help.

That’s the kind of thought you need to put into emergency planning, especially where your children are concerned.

Medical History

Now what about your child’s medical history?  Some schools or day care centers don’t even provide a card for medical history, or the one they provide might be so sparse that it would be useless in a true medical emergency.  Don’t forget that you can simply create your own medical history card and see that it’s stored with your child’s records.  That way you can be sure that the information you would want emergency personnel to have in an emergency, will be right at their fingertips.

If you have a copy of our book Keep Everything You Love Safe, you’ll find Medical History Forms for you and your kids in the back of the book.  If not, you can download a copy of our Children’s Medical Form here.

So grab your form and let’s get started.

Before you begin filling in the form get a piece of paper and gather everything you have for each child on his or her own sheet.  You’ll need to include a list of chronic conditions, allergies, medications and vitamins that they have or currently are taking along with dosage.  Include a list of all of your child’s health providers including specialists, dentists and any other professional who sees your child on a regular basis.

Now take a moment to sit by yourself in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.   Close your eyes and imagine each of your children individually, with a moderate injury, like a broken ankle.  You’re sitting in the emergency room with him.

The doctor – someone you’ve never seen before and who doesn’t know your child’s unique medical or emotional needs – walks through the door.  What would you tell the doctor about your them?  What do you need her to know?

Child by child, jot down all of the things that just went through your mind.  Old injuries, allergies, surgeries, anything you think is important.   Then do the exercise again, imagining that this had been a serious injury.  Is there anything else that you would need to tell the doctor or surgeon caring for your child?  Anything that might help save his or her life?

Again, jot down any additional things that went through your mind for each of your children.

At the end of our forms, we include a few other questions about your child.   Things that a nurse or physician might need to know to help calm your child down while treating her, until you’re able to be at the hospital   So include a brief section on your child’s likes and dislikes, what calms her down, favorite foods or toys or anything else that might help.   No matter how old your child is, kids tend to regress a bit when they’re hurting or frightened, so the information you provide here can go a long way towards keeping them calm and helping the medical team give them the treatment they need until you arrive at the hospital.

Since children don’t carry wallets or driver’s licenses, make sure that they have ID cards with current emergency contact information in a few different locations, like in a backpack or tucked into a cell phone or an iPod.   And don’t forget to put an ICE Contact (in case of emergency contact) to your children’s iPhones or smartphones.  You can find out how to do that right here on our blog.

Taking the steps to ensure your child’s information now, will help keep him safer while giving you a little more peace of mind.  Talk about a win-win!

High Tech Toys

Here are the coolest ways we can find to keep everyone you love safe and connected.  Smart phones, smart watches, smart flash drives that beam data where you need it and a car accessory that diagnoses your engine on the go.  You’re welcome.

Anker PowerConf Bluetooth Speakerphone

Apple Air Pods

Apple Watch Series 3  

Apple/iTunes Gift Card

Autobrain GPS Tracker for Vehicles

Iridium Extreme Satellite Phone  

Iridium GO! Satellite Phone Wi-Fi Hotspot

BlueCosmo Inmarsat IsatPhone

Samsung Galaxy Note 20

Samsung Gear Fit2 Smartwatch Large, Black

SanDisk 32GB iXpand Flash Drive for iPhone and iPad

Galaxy Fold Z2

IPhone 12 Pro Max

IPhone SE

IPod Touch

Jitterbug Flip Phone

The Ridge Slim RFID Front Pocket Wallet

Tulips In The Breeze Smartphone Case

Red Parrot Smartphone Case

The COVID pandemic has created a new list of toys that people can’t do without — including some very cool high-tech solutions to unexpected challenges.  Like staying healthy and working from home!  Here are some of our favorites.

Cubii Pro Seated Under Desk Elliptical Machine

I’m Smiling On The Inside Face Masks

iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer

iProvèn Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

KODAK Luma 150 Pocket Projector

No-Touch Door Opener, Button Pusher Tool

Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor

PhoneSoap 3 UV Smartphone Sanitizer

Sony Tie-Clip-Style Omnidirectional Microphone

Total Gym APEX G5 Total Body Strength Training

Zacurate Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

As great as the emergency cards you just created are, we have even more things in our book “The ICE My Phone Kit” along with step by step directions for ICEing iPhones, Galaxies, regular androids and even phones that are, shall we say, not all that smart.

Have Fun Getting Your Stuff Together!

At Your Fingertips | Make Your Smartphone Even Smarter

What if I told you, there was something you have with you right now, that can give you the support, information & ability you need to keep everyone and everything you love safe and sound, PLUS the power to gather your family in seconds no matter where they are. What is it? It’s your smartphone! At Your Fingertips is an easy to read, easy to use guide that turns your smartphone into your very own life preserver. Paperback Or Instant Download

 

Keep Everything You Love Safe | The Book Inspired By The Blog

Keep Everything You Love Safe, is filled with quick, easy, 5 minute steps you can take right now, to get everything that’s important to you organized, safe, sound and accessible. Each section covers a different area, from backing up and fixing family photos, home movies and music, to vital documents, medical and financial information and even getting your digital life in order. Paperback Or Instant Download

 

Keep The Stuff You Love Safe

How To Save Your Treasured Voice Mail Messages

How To Save Your Home Movies And Videos

How To Archive Your Digital Photos

How To Archive Your Print Photos

How To Make A Home Inventory

How To Get Your Financial Life In Order

How To Preserve Your Family History

How To Back Up Your Facebook Friends List

Turn Your Smartphone Into A Mobile Command Center

How To Backup Your Music, MP3s And Vinyl Albums

How To Access Your Money No Matter Where You Are

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