News Release
Public Safety
Matt Blunt, Governor
Mark James, Director


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


For more information, please contact:
Terri Durdaller
Communication Director
Work:(573) 751-4819
Cell: (573) 301-2023

   

Gov. Blunt Announces Missouri Will Join ICE Initiative

JEFFERSON CITY, August 2, 2005—Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that Missouri will participate in the In-Case-of-Emergency (ICE) cell phone initiative.

The ICE initiative encourages Missourians to enter emergency contact information into their cell phones, and label the entry “ICE.” First responders, emergency service personnel, law enforcement and bystanders will quickly be able to access that information should a citizen become a victim. ICE was created for emergency situations when a victim is unable to tell first responders their medical or contact information.

Gov. Blunt urges Missourians to participate in the ICE campaign.

“This initiative has strong potential for saving lives,” Blunt said. “Most Missourians no longer carry emergency contact information in their wallets or purses, but most do carry cell phones. It is natural that with increased technology like this, Missourians store their emergency contact information in their phones.”

ICE was created by East Anglian Ambulance, an ambulance trust in England. Missouri’s initiative is modeled after East Anglia’s campaign that partnered U.K. companies with first responders in order to better provide care for citizens.

Citizens may have heard about the ICE initiative on the Internet. The Missouri Department of Public Safety reminds citizens that participation in ICE is voluntary and free. Under no circumstance should Missourians pay any money, register anywhere or do anything more than enter an emergency contact into their cell phone.

For more information about the origin of ICE, please visit http://www.icecontact.com/index.html. For more information about Missouri’s participation in the ICE campaign, please contact Terri Durdaller at (573) 751-4819.


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