In Case of Emergency (ICE) – July
27, 2009
We are well prepared
performers. We have our client’s
information, our MapQuest, our GPS, and our cell phones. We have memorized the birthday child’s name &
age and our equipment is prepped and ready to go.
Are we well prepared for
emergencies though?
How many of us give emergency
information to our clients or any agents we might work for?
How many of us have this
information readily available for our client when we are performing (in a place
where they might think to look in a split second)?
A close friend of mine
related to me a first-hand experience of being stung by two bees during a
performance - yes, she is okay now. Not
only did she think about the implications of this event, but she let several
performer friends know that we should think about it too. (Hence, my first BLOG is dedicated to
Rachel.)
I'll say what I've said
again and again about our profession -- yeah, we are competitors, but we are
also friends and co-workers who form a team of entertainers.
This medical event prompted
a few questions:
·
What
if there was an emergency?
·
How
would the client know who to contact?
·
If
you were hired through an agency and the client called the agency, would the
agent know who to contact?
·
If
police or medical personnel were on the scene would anyone have a clue as to
who you “REALLY” were and not just your “STAGE” name or “SANTA”?
Now some of us may not have
much more information to give other than, “my real name is XXXXX and you can
call my spouse for emergencies at xxx-xxx-xxxx”.
For this type of easy information
there are a few easy answers:
·
Newer
cell phones have ICE on them that emergency personnel can access. But…wait…how many of us leave our phones in
our vehicle because we are there to perform, not to twitter?
·
A
luggage tag would be a great idea. Most
people know what a luggage tag is and that a contact phone number would
probably be on it. The information on
that tag is usually sealed for protection and we can attach it to our balloon
bag, face painting kit, magic box, etc.
Then again, there are some
performers that have more information:
allergies –important health issues – medications that MUST be known,
etc.
·
If
this is the case and you have more information than will fit in the luggage
tag, perhaps list on the luggage tag your Name, Emergency Contact, “LIFE
THREATENING information” and LOOK HERE FOR MORE ALLERGIES.
·
Now,
you might have more than JUST Allergies listed, but most people/medical
personnel will want to know Allergies quickly and then they will see that you
are well prepared for emergencies by giving them other information as well.
·
Your
LOOK HERE place can be in a sealed envelope at the bottom of your kit or
wherever you think it is out of the way, safe, and easily located from the
directions on the luggage tag.
·
What
could you put on your ICE form? I have
an easy form you can use at www.BayAreaStars.com/blog/ice/iceform
that you can add and delete from to make your own ICE information sheet. (If you have other things I can add to it
that I may have forgotten, please send me an e-mail and I can add it on.)
Here are my closing thoughts:
1.
How
many of you truly know how to respond in a medical emergency for ourselves and
others? We work with children and large
groups of all ages; perhaps we should know how to respond; there are lots of
books in the library or information on the internet.
2.
Do
you carry a first aid kit in your performance gear? There are small inexpensive ones at most drug
stores.
3. Is your First Aid and CPR
certification current? Your local Red
Cross should have class schedules available.
Well, I’m off to update my
contract and invoice with a notation telling clients to see the luggage tag for
my ICE.
Happy Stars To
You,
Cheryl Ferguson
510-468-0931
Cheryl@BayAreaStars.com
www.BayAreaStars.com/blog/ice/iceform
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