Preparing for an Emergency: Composing an “Emergency Information” Sheet

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you were in a car accident and could not speak for yourself?  Sure, the emergency personnel would look at your driver’s license to see who you are, but is that all they need?  No, not at all!  In order to give you appropriate emergency treatment, they’ll need more information than just your name, address, and birth date.  My suggestion is to create an Emergency Information Sheet to have all of your emergency information in one place…and easy for the emergency personnel to find.

What to Include on Your Emergency Information Sheet

It is suggested that you put the following information on a sheet of paper:

  • Name, address, phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Blood type
  • If you wear contact lenses, false teeth, hearing aid, etc.
  • Emergency contact names and phone numbers
  • Any allergies you many have
  • A list of medications you take
  • Immunizations you’ve had in the past five years
  • Surgery history (date and type)
  • Physician’s name and phone number
  • Pharmacy name and phone number
  • Special information such as:
    • Whether or not you have a ‘Living Will’
    • Whether or not you are an organ donor or an anatomical donor
  • Brief list of family medical history
  • Any other information that is necessary for proper treatment

Also, copy your medical insurance card onto the piece of paper.  And at the top, put a recent picture of yourself.  The reason for the picture:  If other people are in the car with you, the emergency personnel would know who the information belongs to and they’ll be able to positively identify you.

You can do this on the computer and should be able to get everything on one sheet of paper.  Put the information sheet in your wallet behind your dollar bills.

Where to Keep Your Emergency Information Sheet

Then, in order to let the emergency personnel know that this information sheet exists, take a small piece of paper (folded in half).  On the outside, write, “In Case of Emergency.”  On the inside, write, “All of my emergency information is on a piece of paper behind my dollar bills.”  Then tuck this small piece of paper into the slot where your driver’s license is, but only cover the written part of your license, still showing your picture.  Make sure “In Case of Emergency” is visible also.  Now, there’s no way this information will get overlooked, should an emergency arise…and it just might save your life!

 

Image via Flickr by Rolf Larsen

Carol Schmidt

Carol Schmidt

Carol Schmidt is the mother of three grown daughters and has always said the most important job in the world is that of a parent. For years she has asked a very important question: "If you knew then what you know now..." She is excited to share with others the insight she has gleaned through the years.
Carol Schmidt

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Carol Schmidt

Carol Schmidt is the mother of three grown daughters and has always said the most important job in the world is that of a parent. For years she has asked a very important question: "If you knew then what you know now..." She is excited to share with others the insight she has gleaned through the years.

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