It’s not a new idea, but it will undoubtedly save time and trouble, if not lives. The Red Cross is appealing to everyone to add a special contact number into their mobile phones. It should be saved on phones under the name “AA Emergência” as then, organisers hope, the number will appear at the top of people’s contacts list.
The phone number that follows should be that of the person which the phone’s owner would want contacted in case of emergency.
The idea, currently being promoted by the Red Cross via email, follows similar ideas by police forces (often not taken up). And the reason stems from the fact that “everyone carries a mobile phone” these days but it is often very difficult for Red Cross personnel to take advantage of victim’s phones to contact relatives/next of kin in emergencies.
As the service says, the idea is “simple, costs nothing and could help those who might be trying to help you…”
