The Cruz Roja and the Interior Ministry of Spain have launched a new campaign today, to encourage storing the telephone number of your next of kin, with the prefix of “Aa” in your mobile address book.

A similar system already operates in the UK under the “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) scheme, but it is considered that “Aa” is a better option as it will be at the top of most peoples address books, and therefore easier to find.

It is also suggested that the name follows the prefix, so the name should be something like “Aa Maria”, so the emergency services also know who they are calling.

We urge you all to add that person now, that you would like to be contacted in the event of an emergency.

An awareness campaign is being run on television, and in the Spanish newspapers.