Angela Philipps, Contributor

If an unfortunate incident were to occur, be it a car accident or fainting, and you were not with anyone you knew, would those around you be able to locate the number of who to call?

I received a most interesting email a few weeks ago from a 'fan'. I like to think of my readers as fans but, of course, some are not! However, one cannot please all those who venture to open the pages of the Outlook.

Anyway, this lady sent me the most incredible idea. Her suggestion was that everyone who has a cellphone should have a contact named 'in case of emergency' or 'ICE' (hence the title of today's article), with the digits of the person who ought to be called if there was a pressing or urgent circumstance, and the owner of the phone was unable to communicate. Genius!

But how would I tie this in with being single in the city? Of course! When you're not hitched, it's quite possible that you could be alone when and if something happened to you. How would a stranger know who to get hold of in that case? Scroll down to 'ICE' on the mobile, and press 'send'. Baddabam! A close friend or relative will know what's going on and can take things from there. Certainly, '119' (911, 999 - depending on where you are) should be dialled as well, but it's nice to know that you won't be alone in the hospital!

So, who exactly do us singletons put as our 'ICE' contact? A parent, a sibling or a cherished friend? I don't think it really matters, as long as you tell them what you have done. What if all of the above live far away and can't help you? At least, they'd know that you were in trouble and perhaps they could coordinate with those who are nearer. Knowledge is power, as they say, in whatever form that may be.

Now, what if you've been on a few dates with a great guy or gal? Would it be appropriate to have them as your 'ICE' connection? Hmmm, that's a tough one. I'd say that unless you have grown particularly close to said person, then keep him or her out of it. What if you were on your way to a romantic 'rendezvous' when you passed out before getting there, or something to that effect? The poor thing would assume he or she had been stood up. They might wait and wait for hours, with no news.

A similar episode did happen to me some years ago. I was living in a foreign city and had been out with this bloke twice. Dinner was planned, and I was to meet him at a restaurant. I was busy sweating my tail off in an exercise class a couple hours before, and suffered a terrible injury, which left me unable to walk.

In two twos, I was whisked away in a screeching ambulance and taken to the emergency room. Luckily, someone in the group knew me, so was able to speak to members of my family. No one had a clue about my impending date, and I was in too much pain to even remember. I had switched off my phone when I had arrived at the gym, and it remained this way for another couple days, so any attempt on his part to check on me fell by the wayside.

When, at last, I was back to my usual self, I got in touch with the fellow. Rightly so, he was a little cheesed off with me. I did explain the situation, but we never saw each other again. Unfairly, I was upset that he hadn't been there for me in my time of need, but how was he to know? Maybe he should have been my 'In Case of Emergency' contact!

angelaphilippsja@hotmail.com