Why You Should Keep Emergency Numbers on Your Mobile Lock Screen

In life-threatening situations like accidents or sudden health crises, timely medical assistance and quick communication with a patient’s family can be the difference between life and death. However, in many such emergencies, the biggest hurdle is contacting the victim’s family because mobile phones are often locked.

Cardiac arrest, for instance, can cause death within minutes if not treated immediately. If someone collapses in a public place and their mobile phone is locked, it becomes difficult to notify their family or provide medical history to healthcare providers.

Dr. Maya Tandon, a senior specialist, emphasizes the importance of having emergency numbers readily available on mobile phones. She points out that having a family member's number accessible via the lock screen can significantly improve the chances of receiving timely treatment.

Important Helpline Numbers to Save:

In addition to family members' contacts, it is also advisable to save essential national emergency numbers, such as:

• National Emergency Number: 112

• Ambulance: 108

• Police: 100

• Fire Brigade: 101

• Highway Emergency: 1033

• Women’s Helpline: 1091

• Senior Citizens Helpline: 14567

• Child Helpline: 1098

• Traffic Police: 1095

Make sure these numbers are not just saved in your contacts, but also written and placed in visible spots like your home, school bags, and offices.

Tips for Everyone:

• Add at least 2 or 3 trusted family members’ contact details under a label like "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone.

• Use your mobile's lock screen message feature to display ICE contact numbers so that they are accessible even when the phone is locked.

• Encourage Emergency Preparedness and elderly family members to carry ID cards or small tags in school bags or wallets with emergency contacts.

Final Thoughts:

Emergencies don’t come with a warning. But with a simple step like displaying emergency contacts on your lock screen, you can ensure that help reaches you or your loved ones without delay. It’s a small action with potentially life-saving consequences. Take a moment today to set this up—it could make all the difference tomorrow.