Originally Posted by Lehava
I would be VERY surprised if first responders would even be able to look in the phone. As an EMT we were trained not even to open the persons purse or wallet. That was not our role and not even legal. We had to give the personal effects to the cops and they handled it from there for legal reasons. So if we couldnt check the wallet for who our patient was, how could we go in and search their personal phone list? Not to mention in a true emergency that is the LAST thing I am going to be doing, figuring out how their cell phone works.
I am not saying having an emergency contact listed is a bad idea, but it doesnt seem like it would help EMS at all.
With Ski Patrol, 95% + of the time individuals are skiing in groups and when an accident happens, the individual is alert and also has family or friends with them.
In rare cases, we had no problem (and neither did EMS, who would greet us up at the lodge by ambulance or helicopter) doing a quick search of an individual for ID. This was a small town and EMS was city/county operated.
SDF_Traveler