Do you have ICE (In Case of Emergency) on your smartphone when you’re travelling on a sit? I also have a Road ID bracelet with ICE information. What else do other sitters use, or don’t they?
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MyLuckyTag
BTW, related to pets, I have a card in my wallet that says I have a dog. That’s so if I’m in an accident and can’t share info, emergency responders will know to look for my dog, say in the car if I’m not in it during an emergency. It also includes an emergency contact who will accept or retrieve my dog if needed. I gave my husband an identical card, in case he’s out with our dog when I’m not and is involved in an emergency.
And outside our house, we have a sign that says we have a dog. That’s so if we’re incapacitated or away during an emergency, first responders will know that there’s a dog to rescue (or if you have a dog that might attack, they’ll be prepared to avoid being bitten).
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Tangentially, if you’re on meds or have serious allergies, it might be important that emergency workers immediately know that even if you can’t speak for yourself. That’s so they don’t give you medicines or treatments that can hurt or kill you.
Even if you don’t carry or use digital accounts for such, you might consider carrying such info on you in paper form.
Decades ago, when my grandfather was still alive (and before digital devices were common), I made printouts for all family members, for his wallet and posted the same info on an entryway table at his home, in case emergency workers found him while he was alone and incapacitated.
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Thanks again ms.Maggie, I bought two for myself and my partner. Another great idea from you!
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I use ICE on my phone, but watching all the great ideas here while pondering an upgrade. Thanks, guys!
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If you’re on prescription medication, or allergic to certain medications, and living or sitting in UK, it’s worth knowing about the ‘Message in a Bottle’ scheme, whereby you keep important medical details in a particular bottle in the fridge - anything that an emergency responder would need to know if you were unable to communicate with them yourself.
Details of the official scheme in the link below:
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The challenge with this is, responders need to know to look and you have to be home when you have the emergency.
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I had a look online at this scheme, here’s what I found.
Put one sticker inside your front door, so it’s clearly visible to any of the emergency services.
Put the other sticker on your fridge or on your back door. The green and white stickers are recognised by the emergency services.
Don’t put a sticker on the outside of your property. The emergency services will know to look for one inside your front door.
Here’s some more information about this scheme.
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These are the pet alert cards and decals I previously bought. They no longer sell this version, but there are plenty of variations.
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I only found out about this relatively recently, but I think that knowing to look for this information in the fridge is widespread amongst responders, eg. paramedics, here. The fridge was chosen as the place because it’s something that the vast majority of homes have. But yes, if you have an accident miles away from your fridge, well, you’re pretty much stuck!
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I’ve had contacts in my mobile phone marked with “ICE” for about 20 years when I first heard about this. Thankfully they have never had to be used but it’s a great safety feature In Case of an Emergency
After yesterday’s discussion about ICE (not that one 
), I checked my own Road ID bracelet and the stainless steel tag that has my name on the outside along with the all important contact telephone #s for emergencies is worn and scratched, not as easy to read as intended , or I would like. I emailed Road ID and within minutes had a reply, saying that there’s a lifetime guarantee and the’d send a new one. Today i had another email telling me the replacement has been sent. Great customer service and very reassuring.
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We also carry a card with us if, for any reason, we leave the animals at home. If we were both hurt in an accident no one would know that the animals needed help. It explains who we are and that we’re house sitting at such and such an address and also give the owners contact. Hopefully any emergency services would act on the information.
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