How to Prepare for a Medical Emergency

What do you do when a friend or relative has anwrite it by hand. At the very least, include name,
unexpected medical emergency and you have toaddress, contact and insurance information,
accompany them to the emergency room? If it isprescription medications and allergies. Make sure to
a serious medical problem, you will need to call theinclude additional comments that are critical in an
emergency services phone number 911 (in theemergency situation.
U.S. and Canada) and be ready to provideFold the "Emergency Document", put it an
important information about the person's health.envelope and write "IN CASE OF EMERGENCY" in
You may need to give ambulance paramedicsbig letters on the front. Put the envelope in your
important health information. You may need topurse, wallet or child's backpack. Keep it with you
register the person at the emergency room andat all times so a medical attendant can retrieve
provide additional information, including insurancethe health information immediately.
documentation. Doctors, nurses and medical staffIf you are responsible for other people, then put
will have questions to aid them in making criticalthe "Emergency Documents" for yourself and the
decisions. In other words, someone needs to takeothers in the same envelope. If you have a
charge and that someone may be you!family, that might include you, your husband and
When we think of emergency preparedness, wechildren. Then give an envelope to every one in
usually think of food and water for anyour family. You never know who needs to help
unexpected natural or man-made disaster. And ifthe other!
a serious medical emergency happens, we just callIf and when you go to the emergency room, do
911 and the medical staff will take care ofnot leave your only copy with the first medical
everything else. But think again.staff person you encounter. Either have the first
What if your loved one is alone and can't speakperson make additional copies for you or bring
to the medical staff? What if they areseveral copies with you. Usually you have to give
unconscious and unable to answer questions aboutthe same information over and over again to
their medical condition and you don't know theevery new nurse, doctor and technician that will
answers? What if your child is at school andbe responsible for your emergency care! And
medical records are unavailable? You could be onmake sure the correct information is on the
a vacation, commuting, or even in a foreignpatient's wristband.
country.An "Emergency Document" is another kind of
The answer is simple. Prepare an "Emergencyhealth insurance. If a medical emergency does
Document". If you have a computer, type theoccur, you will be prepared to handle it calmly,
information and print it. Save this documentquickly, and efficiently to aid in the medical care of
where it can easily be changed and reprintedyourself or a loved one.
when necessary. If you don't have a computer,