Being morbid? Or sensible?

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.

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

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

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

The neighbour also has a key to the house.

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.