Being morbid? Or sensible?

Lots of you are saying have who to contact on your phone. However I don’t think anyone else would be able to access my phone contacts without knowing the passcode.Am I missing something .? Ok you can tell relatives etc the passcode but they might not be with you to,do,so.

ICE before a contact, which the emergency services have been trained to look for, won't be available if the phone is locked, which it should be for security. But there is a facility to put ICE and a name and contact number on the lock screen which will appear before unlocking. Go into Settings, then Display, and then Lock Screen on an Android phone, will be something similar on an iPhone.

I have ICE as a name on my phone (In Case of Emergency).
It's my husbands no.

ICE on your phone will suffice, surely?

If you have pets alone in the house you can carry a card saying so - it would be dreadful to think of a faithful dog or cat starving or dying of thirst on their own for several days.

But where do you stop? if a friend and I go for a walk should we each know each others emergency numbers

If I attend an open lecture, or a concert, or go tonthe theatreshould the organisers make everyone hand in their NoK details with their ticket?

I think it another case where responsibility should be handed firmly back to the indivdiual. They should akways have their NoK dteails and emergency numbers with them, on their phone, in a diary etc etc.

In the same way the first page of the filofax in my handbag has written across it in strong red capitals 'Allergic to pennicillin'

I think - this is to Elegran - because it really does seem nanny-state-ish to me. We are all just as likely to have a heart attack crossing the road, in a supermarket, on a bus, on the beach as in a book group. It seems more realistic and much simpler for those concerned about what would happen in these circs to make sure that they always have the necessary information with them.
It also means presumably that the book group organiser has to have the inf on her own phone, and then if it’s lost or stolen…

The emergency services CAN'T get hold of the right information without a clue of some sort. Being told that the old lady who has collapsed and is unconscious is called Evelyn, lives somewhere to the west of town, has a daughter called Josie and didn't like the Salmon Rushdie book won't help them get word to her family that she is in hospital. If the group organisers have her address, they may do a little better, but they still may not find out how to contact Josie in time to be at her mother's bedside in time.

Even people at a sedate book group could have a heart attack while sitting discussing the latest novel, and the others at the group may not know where they live or who their nearest relative is. Going to the address given to the group leader on registering could involve more than one bus, to an out-of town destination where most of the neighbours are at work and those at home don't have keys or know phone numbers of emergency contacts. Not every neighbourhood has everyone knowing everyone else's relations, they aren't all Coronation Street.

What is your objection to giving an emergency phone number to the organisers of a regular meeting?

What sort of groups? Morbid isn’t the word, but it seems to me health and safety in overdrive to require next of kin information for interest groups other than sports, or activity related classes.
Individuals with particular health concerns will always take care to have the relevant information about them. As others have said, the first contact will be the emergency services who can get hold of the right information. And sending a group member round to the person’s house or neighbour likely to get the speediest result re other contact.

Me too, good one

This thread has made me think, thank you. The charity I volunteer for has all my details but what if I have an accident driving there? I now have a couple of names and numbers in my purse.

I used to be the Manager of a couple of groups, and one of the requirements when people joined was that they complete a form, giving emergency contact numbers and any serious medical conditions such as Epilepsy. Angina, etc. Also any allergies, and GP surgery.

I attend a group now, and the Manager has got everyone's next of kin details.

Same here, and it was also happening way back in 1975 in the playgroup that my son was in. When parents are not on hand to be responsible for a child, then there must be a quick way to contact them in any emergency. The same is true of adults. Accidents happen, and people suddenly have medical emergencies - strokes, heart attacks, broken limbs, diabetic comas, all can occur in an instant. It isn't being morbid to be aware of this. Not acknowledging it is the sin. You add a few letters to a contact on your phone or written on a piece of paper in your purse or pocket, then you don't have to worry or obsess about it again.

All the groups I am in do this. Even the very small ones. We have to sign an attendance sheet or at least tick our names. It means we are covered by insurance. Just commonsense really, especially as you get older.

Macadia

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).

I too was going to suggest adding I C E (In Case of Emergency) to the entry of the person to call (or people, as the first one contacted may not answer) I have three contacts named, in this order - my brother, who lives only one street away but whose phone is often switched off, my son who lives at the other end of town but who probably has his phone on, and my daughter who lives further away and would take longest to reach me, but is the one most likely to answer immediately.

Paramedics would look in your phone for an ICE number.

I organise coach trips to classical concerts for the local U3A. I am required to have next of kin contact details.

A word of warning.

Recently there have been a spate of WhatsApp scams, where people have been contacted by scammers, who accessed their phone. They targeted people who had son/daughter listed and claimed they had lost their phone and needed money.

A much better idea to have it listed as EC or something similar.

Like Tanith, I have Mr LP's phone numbers ( mobile, work, house landline ) listed under ICE in my phone contacts list. As she says, the emergency services know where to look first.

Take care xx

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

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.

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'

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.

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.

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!