Mumsnet Logo
My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

How would emergency services find my next of kin?

55 replies

kingat · 13/04/2021 20:59

Does anyone know? Say I get run over by a bus, my phone is locked, how do they find someone to call? Or if a child is in accident, how do they find parents?

OP posts:
Report

R2221 · 13/04/2021 21:02

Scary thought. But keen to know !

Report

HolyMerlot · 13/04/2021 21:08

iPhones have a Medical ID section under the 'Emergency' tab on the passcode screen which can be accessed without the need to know the passcode.

If you fill out your Medical ID on your phone you can put down emergency contact names, numbers and their relation to you (as well as your blood group, allergies etc etc)

Report

Shoxfordian · 13/04/2021 21:10

They’d look in your handbag if you had one for your name on a card or something

Report

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 13/04/2021 21:11

Set the 'Welcome' message on your phone's locked screensaver with emergency contact info or use the emergency button function on your locked phone. You can also save info under 'ICE' (in case of emergency) in your contacts

Report

Sn0tnose · 13/04/2021 21:12

I keep a card in my purse with my medication and emergency contact details on it.

Report

omg35 · 13/04/2021 21:16

This is a good question. I have a recurring nightmare about how I'd know if DD was in an accident with her dad and stepmum as would they assume they were her parents if none of them could communicate

Report

Yubaba · 13/04/2021 21:18

My mum was run over by a hit and run driver and the police opened her phone with her finger print at the hospital and got my number. She was in an out of consciousness and she doesn’t remember if they asked her but I assume they did as I’m in her phone as my name and how would they have known who I was otherwise?

Report

DancesWithDaffodils · 13/04/2021 21:18

I have an ICE (In Case of Emergancy) app on my (android) phone, which I've put DH and my parents details into. The info is accessible even when phone locked.

Report

DollyBantry · 13/04/2021 21:20

Put the word ICE in front of your next of kin in your phone contacts. Emergency services are trained to look for this on your phone if they need to.

Report

JennyBond · 13/04/2021 21:20

Good question. As I pay for everything by phone now I never have my purse with me.

I’m going to look up that medical ID thing. Thanks to those who mentioned that.

Report

Babysharkdododont · 13/04/2021 21:21

It'll be on your medical records, so if they figured out who you are they'd have your nok.

Report

PieonaBarm · 13/04/2021 21:22

They phone medical records at the hospital and see who you have listed with them as NOK or check the voters role for whose registered with you at home address or check their own system for previous calls from you or your home address

Report

DollyBantry · 13/04/2021 21:23

You can also enter emergency contacts on your Medical ID in the Apple health app and choose to share this on your lock screen. It’s then there for people to see under the ‘emergency’ section when your phone is locked.

Report

RomComPhooey · 13/04/2021 21:24

I have my 3 emergency contacts listed in the emergency information on my phone, which can be accessed without unlocking my phone. DH is also listed as “ICE Husband (name)” in my address book (ICE = in case of emergency) so it would be easy for paramedics/police to identify him if they unlocked my phone.

Report

sageflower · 13/04/2021 21:24

In my iPhone under settings - emergency sos you can fill out your contacts in be contacted in an emergency, when you go to switch off your phone the emergency sos pops up as an option, the police or hospital would then be able to call them.

Report

Angrypregnantlady · 13/04/2021 21:25

I have emergency contacts and medical info set up on the lock screen so they don't need the password.

Report

PurpleDaisies · 13/04/2021 21:25

Are you asking for a particular reason?

Report

kingat · 13/04/2021 21:26

Good point re unlocking with persons finger, I guess a lot of people would have a "mum" in contacts or they just call someone on the list.
And I suppose if someone doesnt show up at home they would have some "missing" report to match.
Buy, still I wonder if there are other ways if someone hasnt got anything on them.

OP posts:
Report

FrankButchersDickieBow · 13/04/2021 21:26

ICE

Report

Jenacles · 13/04/2021 21:29

You should be able to add a note onto your lock screen. Mine shows the date, time and underneath I have ICE - husband's name and number. It's definitely reassuring to know it's so easy to see

Report

WeekendCEO · 13/04/2021 21:30

iPhones have a Medical ID section under the 'Emergency' tab on the passcode screen which can be accessed without the need to know the passcode.

I’ve just done this so thank you, I didn’t know about it. 😊

Report

KatherineOfGaunt · 13/04/2021 21:32

On a Samsung you can add info to the lock screen via the settings. I have ICE and DH's name and number on mine.

Report

MuchTooTired · 13/04/2021 21:32

Thank you for this thread, I’ve just updated my info on my phone in case something ever happens.

Report

dun1urkin · 13/04/2021 21:34

Sadly the police etc are well used to doing this.
My FIL died at home, alone. The police broke in and found him, (his work colleagues hadn’t heard from him for a couple of days and asked for a welfare check) and they managed to find my DH’s contact details and phone him within a few hours; less than half a day. Despite my FIL having no smart (or even mobile) phone and his house being extremely messy and disorganised, so no list of names and numbers next to his landline, for example.
I also have medical id filled out on my phone, with my DH listed as ICE1 and my Dad as ICE2

Report

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 13/04/2021 21:43

I also have ICE and medical info saved on my phone.

Can be accessed off the front screen of an Iphone without needing to enter password. See photo

How would emergency services find my next of kin?
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Sign up to continue reading

Mumsnet's better when you're logged in. You can customise your experience and access way more features like messaging, watch and hide threads, voting and much more.

Already signed up?