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I.C.E. – In Case of Emergency A Cambridge-based paramedic has launched a national campaign with Vodafone to encourage people to store emergency contact details in their mobile phones. Bob Brotchie, a clinical team leader for the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust, hatched the plan last year after struggling to get contact details from shocked or injured patients. By entering the acronym ICE – for In Case of Emergency – into the mobile’s phone book, users can log the name and number of someone who should be contacted in an emergency. The idea follows research carried out by Vodafone that shows more than 75 per cent of people carry no details of who they would like telephoned following a serious accident. Bob, 41, who has been a paramedic for 13 years, said: “I was reflecting on some of the calls I’ve attended at the roadside where I had to look through the mobile phone contacts struggling for
information on a shocked or injured person. “It’s difficult to know who to call. Someone might have “mum” in their phone book but that doesn’t mean they’d want them contacted in an emergency. “Almost everyone carries a mobile phone now, and with ICE we’d know immediately who to contact and what number to ring. The person may even know of their medical history.” The campaign was launched this week by Bob and Falklands war hero Simon Weston in association with Vodafone’s annual Life Savers Awards. Vodafone spokesperson Ally Stevens said: “The Life Savers Awards already demonstrate, through practical example, the important role a mobile phone can play when minutes matter in an emergency. “By adopting the ICE advice, your mobile will now also help the rescue services quickly contact a friend or relative – which could be vital in a life or death situation.” The campaign is also asking people
to think carefully about who will be their ICE partner - with helpful advice on who to choose - particularly if that person has to give consent for emergency medical treatment. Bob hopes that all emergency services will promote ICE in their area as part of a national awareness campaign to highlight the importance of carrying next of kin details at all times. He said the idea was for the benefit of loved ones as well as the patient. “Research suggests people recover quicker from the psychological effects of their loved one being hurt if they are involved at an earlier stage and they can reach them quickly," he added. He said he hoped mobile phone companies would now build the ICE contact into future models, adding: "It's not a difficult thing to do. As many people say they carry mobile phones in case of an emergency, it seems natural this information should be kept there."
Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 Statutory Instrument S.I. 2005/1541 THE Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 passed on 7 June 2005 and has the aim of simplifying the law regarding fire safety in the UK. The Regulations will be coming into effect on 6th April 2006. The Order imposes duties upon “responsible persons” (which is defined in Section 3) to take necessary general fire precautions to ensure the safety of employees and the general public in non-domestic premises. In addition, the responsible person is required to undertake suitable and adequate risk assessment exercises for the purposes of identifying the necessary general fire precautions. Regarding dangerous substances, risk assessments must take into consideration issues identified in Part 1 of Schedule 1, with the added requirement of eliminating or reducing the risk from the dangerous substances as far as reasonably practicable (Section 12). Part 2 of Schedule 1 deals with issues relating to risk assessments when young persons are employed on the premises.
Preventative and protective measures implemented should be done so on the basis of specified principles (Part 3 of Schedule 1). Records should be kept in relation to risk assessments undertaken and the protective measures taken. Appropriate fire-fighting equipment and fire detection and alarms should be provided, where necessary (Section 13). Routes to emergency exits should be kept clear at all times (Section 14). Section 14 also details other specific issues regarding the emergency routes. Appropriate safety procedures should be established for use in the event of serious and imminent dangers to occupiers (Section 15), and additional emergency measures may be required in respect of dangerous substances (Section 16). The premises, its facilities, equipment and devices should be adequately maintained so that they are kept in efficient working order and in good repair (Section 17). Responsible persons must appoint 1 or more competent persons to assist in
the undertaking of preventative and protective measures (Section 18). Employees should also be provided with comprehensible and relevant information relating to, amongst other things, particular risks identified and safety procedures (Section 19). Adequate safety training should be provided to new and existing employees, where a new risk is identified (Section 21). Co-operation between 2 or more persons responsible for the duties under the Order may be required to ensure jointly compliance (Section 22). Employees have general duties regarding their own reasonable safety and the safety of other employees (Section 23). The Order also has provisions regarding safety measures relating to fire-fighter’s switches to luminous signs (Section 37), the necessity of maintenance measures for licensed premises (Sections 42-43). The reform repeals the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and amends or removes wherever possible the many other provisions dealing with fire safety contained in other legislation. 39
