Being morbid? Or sensible?

If they are unconscious, surely you would need to know who to call to alert them of the patient's circumstances and also be able to give the next of kin details to the approriate authorities.
The patient certainly won't be able do that.

As long as you know who they are, their medical records would show that info, and you would have to get medical help.

Perhaps groups do routinely ask for an emergency contact, tho, and I've forgotten being asked that.

It may be just the phrase 'next of kin' that seemed alarmist to me.

on my phone I have the word 'son' next to his name, so anyone needing to look at it will know who to contact.

lemsip

on my phone I have the word 'son' next to his name, so anyone needing to look at it will know who to contact.

Good idea, I have just edited my daughters name with Daughter at the end. I never thought of this before.

keep a list on my fridge my door and next to the phone
there one in my pocket when i go out

step daughter my sil my case agent
2 strokes all most killed by parasite larva,lung cancer surgery for that and chemo.
i never trust my body/hes gone now but said i was harder to kill the dracula i told him rasputin

so yes leave infro to more than a person. your son,'
,friend etc might not be home

I think having an emergency contact is a good idea.
Several groups I've been involved with in the past has requested this info.

I have asked for it from others when I've organised things too.

Sensible. The phrase "next of kin" sounds like you've popped your clogs. I vote for "emergency contact".

(My phone has a setting called I.C.E. where you enter an in-case of- emergency number that strangers can view even if your phone is locked with a password).

Our choir requires names addresses, email address, phone numbers and next of kin name and phone number.

My sit fit class just had to give name of GP surgery ,address and phone number. But that was to cover her for insurance purposes. My craft group nothing like that. But inside my phone case I have my name and address,next of kin with my daughter's name and phone number ,GP information and a repeat prescription,card saying I am on blood thinners ,what I am allergic to and the two conditions I was born with. Also my mobile phone number just in case I forget it. Sounds a lot but it's all just on 4 bits of card. Plus my emergency £20 in case my purse is ever stolen.

I have a red star ‘next of kin’ symbol against all three of my children in my contacts on my phone ( always have) I think next of kin has the correct meaning
But
Do make sure you give up to date info recently at work a lady didn’t turn up for her shift knowing she’s very reliable we tried phoning, no answer, I knew where she lived, close by, so went round, still no answer, we then got worried and tried the daughter (we all give next of kin info when we join)however the number didn’t work to cut a long day short we eventually through a round about route found a number to use for the daughter and the lady had had a stoke was on the floor and been a few days unable to get to her phone She is now 2/3 months on unable to return to her home if she had been found quickly it could have been a different story

I think your friend is quite correct…. you say if you’re unconscious you just need to call a doctor or ambulance BUT the patient may have some underlying factors that change the way you look after the patient whilst waiting for the GP or ambulance to arrive, that could be hours.
Why not give the information

Emergency Contact is maybe a less alarming phrase. Used for parents in schools and recorded for members of staff too.
Maybe that is more what your friend meant.

What’s wrong with next of kin it’s an old fashioned saying but everyone knows what it means why change it !

I think there will be cases where you need to distinguish between the two.
My next of kin ie my three daughters live 75 and 60+ mikes away respectively but I have given a close neighbour and friends number as Emergency Contact in the case of being taken poorly while at a class as she would be the one to see to the dog, bring an overnight bag to hospital etc at short notice.
Sensible precautions both of them. - not morbid!

The neighbour also has a key to the house.

I have ICE in front of my daughters names in phone contacts emergency workers know to look for it.

Agree RosieMaw I too have a close friend as a key holder who would be my emergency contact

ICE is the usual phrase.
became widely used here after 7/7.

I help organise a women’s group and we ask for emergency contact numbers. Not necessarily family but could be a friend. All the numbers are stored in Google Mail so a couple of us can access the numbers on our phones should we need to. Fortunately we have never needed to, but it’s precautionary. I agree Emergency contact sounds better than Next of Kin.

Good grief, nothing wrong with next of kin and certainly not morbid! It is a sensible idea.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, you won't really care what term is used.

As someone, who has experienced a number of life threatening medical episodes, I am well aware how important it is for the need for someone, who can be contacted.

My medical POA is recorded on my NHS records, that way my next of kin can authorise treatment and be included in decision making , if I am unable to do so. I can confirm that it has happened on a number of occasions.

As for accessing your contact details, by knowing your name, it is not always the case.
Last year I was admitted suddenly to a major hospital with a heart issue. I bypassed A&E and was taken straight to the cardiology unit.
Despite attending numerous clinics in that trust and records computerised, they could not find my records.
I keep my CHI number and an emergency treatment card in my purse.
Bingo!

Mollygo

Our choir requires names addresses, email address, phone numbers and next of kin name and phone number.

Mine too. It’s just sensible in a formal group setting.

I tried yesterday to give my surgery the names and phone numbers of my next of kin (son and daughter) to be added to my records.

The receptionist refused to accept them and asked if I had got their "consent". She then said she could not add them to my records until I got signed letters from each of them agreeing to their details being held on my records!!!

My surgery seems to have gone mad over "consent". I was told to book a blood test which I did. When I turned up for it, the nurse asked if she had my consent before she could take it.

If people have a concern then they should make sure that they always have that information with them on their phone.

Phone or no phone I still have a Filofax that lives in my handbag. NoK infor has always been written in their.

When my sister was fatlly injured in a road accidenton her way to work (just pre-mobile phone days) the police looked in her handbag, found her diary and looked through the phone list where there was a heading 'Daddy'

Sparklefizz

I tried yesterday to give my surgery the names and phone numbers of my next of kin (son and daughter) to be added to my records.

The receptionist refused to accept them and asked if I had got their "consent". She then said she could not add them to my records until I got signed letters from each of them agreeing to their details being held on my records!!!

My surgery seems to have gone mad over "consent". I was told to book a blood test which I did. When I turned up for it, the nurse asked if she had my consent before she could take it.

It is all to do with GDPR, it is the law.

Thats why I have POA, which is formally registered with my surgery.

I’ve just added ‘son, son and daughter and husband to their contact numbers.
A good idea