Mobiles 999 contact idea spreads

A campaign encouraging people to store personal details on their mobile phones to help identify victims of accidents and disasters has taken off since the bomb attacks in London.

Users are being urged to enter a number in their phone's memory under the heading ICE - In Case of Emergency.

Paramedics or police would then be able to use it to contact a relative.

The idea is the brainchild of East Anglian Ambulance Service paramedic Bob Brotchie and was launched in May.

Idea spreads

Mr Brotchie told Radio 4's Today programme: "I was reflecting on some difficult calls I've attended, where people were unable to speak to me through injury or illness and we were unable to find out who they were.

"I discovered that many people, obviously, carry mobile phones and we were using them to discover who they were.

"It occurred to me that if we had a uniform approach to searching inside a mobile phone for an emergency contact then that would make it easier for everyone."

Mr Brotchie said his idea had spread as far as the USA and Australia and had gathered pace since the 7 July attacks.

He has urged mobile manufacturers to take it on board by adding ICE headings to phones before they are sold.