ICE

February 25, 2007

Siguradong ubos, kahit di mabenta. That’s the way the ice delivery boys describe their merchandise. But this is not the ice that I have in mind.

About a week ago, Clyde, an e-mail mate from TESDA Bicol sent me a very interesting piece about ICE. It seems that the concept of ICE started with a paramedic whose job was to respond to emergency situations.

Invariably, in almost all of these emergency cases, the paramedic found a mobile phone with the victim. However, he was always in a quandary whom to call in those cases of emergency.

He thought that there should be an easily recognized name for this purpose. So the concept of ICE was born, meaning, In Case of Emergency. In London, the East Anglican Ambulance Service launched an ICE campaign so that paramedics will not have any trouble locating people to contact during an emergency.

In case you need to notify several people, especially relatives, just use ICE1, ICE2 or ICE3. Pero huwag mo namang paabutin sa ICE100, kasi siguradong ubos ang load mo o kaya ma-low-bat ang phone mo.

I have followed this wise advice, and the wife has done the same together with our two boys. It does not cost anything but it may mean a lot of difference, in case there is indeed some emergency in the family. I hope others will do the same.

Hindi naman emergency, but this guy sent a text message to his friend: “wer na u? reply ka agad. dito na me sa GMA studio tagal ng hintay me sa yo. tuloy ang shooting commercial ng safeguard. dalian mo ikaw ang gaganap na germs!”