Ambulance Service in safety warning

The Welsh Ambulance Service is the latest of the emergency services to issue some Christmas caution as party season hits fever pitch.

The service has come up with a novel way for residents to save an ‘in case of an emergency’ number in their mobiles.

The service is encouraging people to store their emergency contacts under the acronym ICE, and if there is more than one person to save their name and number as ICE, ICE2 and so on.  Should the person’s preferred contact be deaf, then save the number in your phone as ICETEXT.

For those who don’t have mobile phones or whose phones may be password protected, ICE cards will also be made available on request by contacting the Welsh Ambulance Partners in Healthcare Team on 01792 776252 ext 5400, email ppi.team@wales.nhs.uk or text 07711155463, allowing people to pencil in their emergency numbers and store in wallets or purses. 

Fiona Maclean, Community Involvement & Engagement Manager explained: “Tapping in these three simple letters into your phone or carrying the ICE wallet size card can support you if you have an illness or an injury that might get the better of you when enjoying the festive season.  By adopting this idea, it can help patients and families at a time of great distress. It also helps the Welsh Ambulance Service crew, by getting the right treatment to the patient safely and efficiently.”