Paramedics and hospital personnel will often look at a patient’s phone for an ICE (In Case of Emergency) number to know who to call for you, so it’s a good idea to have an app clearly labeled ICE. Smart-ICE4family, or the single guy/gal version, ICE4me, are examples of apps that allow you to input that information, and pertinent medical conditions (such as allergies) for the whole family. Also, keep your medical insurance information stored in the app for easy access when needed. Keep an app like this on your home page for easy access.

GotoAID contains First Aid and CPR information for people, dogs, and cats. You can also store all of your ICE information in this app, though the icon would not necessarily indicate that to a stranger looking at your phone. Get step-by-step instructions on how to perform basic CPR and First Aid for a large variety of situations. There is an option to have it all read to you so you don’t have to repeatedly handle your phone while dealing with the problem at hand. This information is cached, so it is accessible even without an internet connection. A “help” button brings up listings/directions for Hospitals, Police, Dentists, Clinics, Pharmacies and more.

Any devoted pet parent will love Pet First Aid. Get detailed instruction on how to save your dog, cat, puppy or kitten in a medical emergency. Learn how to prevent pet accidents and injury. In addition, you can store all of your pet’s pertinent medical information in the app.

Emergency Preparedness Checklist can help you be prepared for an emergency BEFORE it happens. You get a series of simple, common sense checklists with titles such as Create Emergency Plan, Disaster Supplies Kit, Emergency Car Kit, and Home Hazard Hunt. Basically, it’s a way to ensure that you and your children are prepared for car or home disasters. It certainly never hurts to be prepared.

This is the reference guide used by the U.S. Army to aid survival in any kind of environment. It’s especially useful for outdoor enthusiasts who may find themselves in an emergency situation far from help. All of the information is downloaded to your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, so it is fully accessible even if you are miles from wifi or cell towers. Learn how to plan a survival kit, procure water and food, avoid poisonous/dangerous plants and animals, create weapons, deal with extreme temperatures, first aid, and more.

The Profile of this page is a detailed “ICE” screen, with spots to input your medical information. Unfortunately, without the letters “ICE” on the icon, medical personnel may not know to look in this app for your info. An attractive and intuitive user interface makes it simple to navigate around this extremely useful app. Be prepared for disasters both natural and man-made. Learn about First Aid, CPR, common car emergencies, detailed vaccine information, poison control, wilderness survival, and more. You can even turn your phone into a distress beacon with the built-in strobe light.

This App Store darling is based on the million-copy bestselling book. Be prepared for urban disasters such as a plane crash, car accident, or building fire. Natural disasters such as a tornado, earthquake, and even a nuclear blast are covered as well. Learn how to survive in outdoor situations, even in extreme climates. Fully downloaded onto your device, no wi-fi or cell signal is needed. In addition to extremely detailed survival information and checklists, you will find videos, quizzes, a morse code signaling device, and a sun compass, which is useful for iPod Touch users who don’t have built-in GPS. The attractive and easy-to-understand user interface helps you navigate around the incredible depth of information in this app.