Released on: August 27, 2008, 8:28 am

Press Release Author: Lisa Kornblatt

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Visiting Angels ICE Programs Increases Public Awareness
Promote Readily Accessible Emergency Contact Information
In Case of Emergency (ICE) Program Can Help Save Seniors' Lives with a Simple Cell
Phone Entry; In-Home Caregiver Company Offers Free Education at Regional Locations


Press Release Body: HAVERTOWN, PA - (DATE) - What is one of the first things
paramedics do when they arrive at the scene of an accident and don't know who to
contact or any details about the victim's medical history? They search in the
victims phone under the letter 'I' to find out if the victim has that information
readily available via the In Case of Emergency (ICE) program, an international
effort to carry personal information that could help save your life in an emergency.

Visiting Angels, an in-home senior care company, believes that this information is
especially crucial for seniors living on their own in case of a health-related
emergency. The franchise company recently began a community outreach to educate
clients and non-clients alike on the importance of implementing the ICE program into
their cell phones.

"The ICE program is simple: cell-phone owners, especially seniors, should input the
acronym 'ICE' into their phones' contact lists and attach the name and multiple
phone numbers of someone who should be contacted in case of emergency," mentioned
Richard Bitner of Visiting Angels. "The contact should have access to or prior
knowledge of the victim's health history, allowing paramedics that arrive at the
scene of an emergency to make an informed decision during the
golden hour."

Local municipal fire & police departments, emergency services departments, other
emergency first responders, and cell service carriers have already begun jumping on
the bandwagon to promote the simple but possibly life-saving program. Visiting
Angels backs the program and has begun to do its part in educating communities by
offering a free program for any interested parties through franchise locations.

"We want people to understand that such a simplistic program can have such important
effects," said Richard Bitner. "It is especially important for seniors, who may be
more vulnerable to health issues."

The ICE program, which has gained popularity in Europe and Australia and recently
began making its way across the U.S., is the idea of British paramedic Bob Brotchie,
who launched a campaign encouraging people to implement the program. The idea began
to gain speed after the London bomb attacks of 2005.

Visiting Angels has more than 340 locations across the U.S. where people can go to
request a free educational briefing detailing the benefits of the ICE program.

To locate a Visiting Angels franchise office, please visit: www.VisitingAngels.com.

About Visiting Angels
Visiting Angels is the nation\'s leading franchisor of at-home assisted living
services for seniors. Nationwide, the demand for non-medical senior homecare is at
an all-time high,
as Americans age and more elderly are living on their own. Founded in 1998 and based
in Havertown, PA, Visiting Angels provides a range of helpful services, including
basic
household tasks, personal hygiene, meal preparation, shopping and companionship, as
well as providing a respite for family caregivers.

For more information, please visit www.visitingangels.com.

Web Site: http://www.visitingangels.com.

Contact Details: Lisa Kornblatt
SS|PR
847/415-9330
lkornblatt@sspr.com