Morning Devotional

August  30, 2005
"ICE"      
    by Don Emmitte

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But the LORD reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you. (Psalm 9:7-10 NLT).

One of the difficulties long faced by emergency services personnel is how to locate next of kin for or obtain other necessary information about a victim who is unconscious, dead, or otherwise unable to respond to questions. Even if the victim is carrying one or more forms of identification which have remained with him such as a driver's license, those items don't necessarily provide information about where and how relatives or other interested parties can be reached, resulting in delays as officials try to track those people down through ancillary details. This issue has been addressed through a variety of means over the years, as many people have taken to carrying lists of emergency contacts and vital medical details in their purses and wallets, or wearing items such as bracelets and necklaces with such information engraved on them.

These certainly work and should not be abandoned. However, the East Anglian Ambulance Service has launched a new program. It has recently received national attention. You may have heard it under the acronym “ICE.” Those letters stand for "In Case of Emergency." The campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston and in association with Vodafone's annual life savers award has become quite an important addition to the resources emergency personnel may use to better do their work.

The idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. I have and encourage you to do so as well. 

However, the most important number we all should use “in case of an emergency” cannot be dialed on our phones. That “number” is only found through our prayer life. Your heavenly Father is always as near to you as your reach. It is a simple task to call out to him in your time of need and he will respond immediately and completely. If it weren’t so tragic, it would be comical as to how many times I have become mired in anxiety and fear as I faced some difficulty. God never intended for us to be without resources and direction. However, he is the consummate gentleman. He will come bullying his way into our lives. He comes only when asked. And, always comes when asked. Perhaps its time for you to call out to him today. You won’t be disappointed.