Cell phones come in three categories and a variety of colors. The types range from basic phones to smart phones and phones with special features, but most importantly it’s what we put in our phone that’s crucial for everyone; emergency contacts and more.
Starting with ICE (In case of emergency), choose a person closest to you in order to label the contact ICE (in all caps, it’s easier to identify quickly) in the event of an emergency. I Phones have a Medical ID app while Androids have a built-in emergency information setting, so there’s no excuse not to utilize these, as they can be life saving for all. An alternate number to 911 is 112 which are widely used in Europe, but when used in the U.S. it’s likely that 211 calls are redirected to 911. You may think it’s foolish to mention this, but if you have ever had a phone where some of the digits stop working or get stuck; it’s great to know an alternate number. Also, you should have your local Police and Fire Dept. numbers in your phone. In addition to these, label your closest Hospital, Family doctor and EMS (ambulatory services) in your phone; coordination is ‘Key’ for those with serious health conditions, and timing is everything.
The Poison Control Center in your local area should have a number, but the main one (American Association of Poison) is 1-800-222-1222, or text to 7979797. With so many people taking on new pets through the pandemic, one should definitely have the Animal Poison Control number; ASPCA 1-888-426-4435, along with your Vets number and a 24 Animal hospital nearby. Pets are a part of families, and having an emergency is more likely with an animal, as they do get into things (ingesting toxins) which could be detrimental to your animal; being prepared saves time.
Other types of emergency contacts one should have are the following; Power Co. (loss of electricity happens more frequently today than in the past), Water Co. (disasters compromise drinking water), Tow Truck Co. (AAA roadside assistance or another of your choice), and your Insurance agent (auto, home and renters) in order to submit claims on a timely basis. One number which many of us don’t keep in our phones is a Locksmith. Our lives are full of keys today, house (multiple locks), auto, storage, RV, and cabinets of sorts, such as a Gun cabinet for safety. It’s easy to misplace keys, so having the number to your local key magician makes sense.
Last but not least, a page which offers emergency numbers around the world (great for travelers), with the ability to print; find all countries emergency response numbers here at Wikipedia … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_numbers . It is my hope that you find this useful in some way, as I know I did. I will print the paper from Wikipedia, as I’ve been to islands in the Caribbean and South America; it would have been nice to have known the numbers, as many people like to veer out on their own from a cruise ship, sometimes without guides, so these territories can be dangerous for visitors. Safety always comes first, so being prepared should be a high priority regardless of where you live, travel to … or even if you just stay home; be ready for the unexpected and make your life count.
Make it a Great Week!
Charles Lohr says
Lisa,
Great info but is it still true for Mesquite that dialing 911 gets you to Las Vegas and can slow the response time? I read we should use 702-346-6911 to reach Mesquite 911 direct. Has this issue been corrected? Thanks!