WHAT'S NEW? (September 2010)

In Case of Emergency (ICE)

In a collaborative effort, starting September 9, 2010, Vancouver's 10 community policing centres together with the Vancouver Police Department are launching a new intiative called "ICE" or In Case of Emergency. In fact Sept. 9 to 15th has been proclaimed "Ice Awareness Week" in the City of Vancouver.

In case of emergency (ICE) is a programme that enables first responders, such as paramedics, firefighters, and police officers, to identify victims and contact their next of kin to obtain important medical information. The programme was conceived in the mid-2000s and promoted by British paramedic Bob Brotchie in May 2005. It encourages people to enter emergency contacts in their mobile phone address book under the name "ICE". Alternately, a person can list multiple emergency contacts as "ICE1", "ICE2", etc. The popularity of the program has spread across Europe and Australia, and has started to grow into North America.

VACPC is proud to support this important initiative and would like to thank the VPD for their tremendous involvement, each of the 10 community policing centres and their staff & volunteers, and to VANCITY and the Lion's Club for their generous sponsorship of the project.

For further information on how to obtain your ICE card and brochure, please contact any of the Community Policing Centres in Vancouver or visit www.vpd.ca for further information.

How to Bring In Case of Emergency (ICE) to your Community

1.    Research the ICE program (start with ice4safety.com & ice4safety.blogspot.com &  ems-options.com) Search the websites and blogs for ideas.

2.    Engage a sponsoring group (Lions, Kiwanis, Scouts, Rotary Club, high school or college civics class,faith group, etc) to take on the ICE project. You might also work with businesses in your community to collaborate in some way  with these groups and local first responders.

 3.    Contact your local police, fire dept or ambulance service.   Demonstrate to them how citizens using ICE can not only make their jobs easier but by promoting ICE their organizations can improve their community relations and increase interaction with the communities they serve – in a very positive way.

4.    Present your ICE plan and get support from your community’s first responders.. Ensure that they will train their members to recognize ICE.

5.    Fundraise to pay for ICE cards and related brochures and posters. Sponsors may appreciate having their logo on the ICE cards and literature you distribute.

6     To create cards and brochures:

• Contact ice4safety.com to order ICE cards and/or view other ICE materials. You can order printed ICE cards which can be customized to suit your community project.

• ·Use the free template from the VPD to design your brochure or download other brochures from ice4safety.com

• ·Use the free template provided by the City of Vancouver for the posters or select one of the other samples on the ice4safety website. These can be adapted to suit your project.

7.    Launch your ICE project with the local media ( community papers, radio, and TV). Give the media a simple description of ICE and a compelling statement of how it will benefit your community. You may also request that radio or tv run a PSA(public service announcement) promoting your ICE campaign in addition to the initial coverage.

8.    Contact local schools for permission to distribute ICE cards for students. Present your campaign to parent groups and school administrators to enlist their support.

9.    Distribution to the general public: There are a great number of possibilities for ICE card distribution. Select those that work best for your group and your community. Possibilities for distribution include: through Community Policing Centres, school parent groups, libraries, fire halls, police stations, municipal buildings and community centres, medical offices, churches and cooperating businesses. Community groups may promote the ICE cards at public events. Local politicians can also distribute cards to their constituents, and include ICE information in their periodic newsletters and messages to the community.

10.  For Community events    Booths bearing the ICE Banner attract attention. Your  group can borrow an  ICE Banner from ice4safety.com for your event (free – you just pay the postage)or buy a banner for multiple event use.

11. ICE Sustainability: In order for ANY program to work over the long term it needs to be integrated into the planning and training programs used by the community.

• Designate a yearly ICE Day or do a continuous ICE Project during Preparedness Month (May in Canada

• Once your municipality and first responders have bought into the iCE program, ensure that the ICE symbol and information is posted on their websites as well as your group’s website.

• PSAs on local media remind people about ICE

• Include ICE info and card distribution at a wide range of community events.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY POLICING

Community policing is a partnership between the Community and the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) which solves problems related to crime and safety issues in neighbourhoods throughout Vancouver. Community Policing Centres (CPCs) throughout the city provide to the general public a broad array of services and assistance programs such as crime prevention information, community forums, and citizens patrols.

There are currently 10 Community Policing Centres in the City of Vancouver.

Granville Street CPC

Chinese / Chinatown CPC

Grandview Woodlands CPC

Hastings Sunrise CPC

Collingwood CPC

South Vancouver CPC

Kerrisdale, Oakridge, Marpole CPC

West End - Coal Harbour CPC

Aboriginal CPC

Kitsilano/Fairview CPC

Please visit our Community Policing page for more information on CPC's and to find the nearest CPC to you!

CPCs operate mainly in part to the kindness and generosity of volunteers and this represent a tremendous return to the citizens of Vancouver.  If you are interested in volunteering, contact the CPC in your area for more information.  Qualifications for volunteering varies from CPC to CPC, but you must be 19 years of age and be subject to a criminal record check.