In Case Of Emergency Info - Where EMTs are trained to look

I hadn't really seen this brought up, but as a former EMT, here's where I would be looking for medical info if you are home alone and unable to communicate

(I also bring this same info every time I see a new doctor)

Medication list - with dosages and prescribing doctor contact info, plus pharmacy contact info - Include all OTC meds/supplements/vitamins and dosages - Keep this up to date, at least monthly, with the date on the page
Name, address, and phone number for every doctor you see
Brief medical history - diagnoses/surgeries/procedures done by whom and when - no need for a full detailed medical history
Very brief family medical history - "Father had triple bypass 2001, Mother is insulin dependent diabetic" That kind of thing.
Notarized copy of your living will, if you have one
Contact information for at least 5 people.
The location and description of your purse and/or wallet and house keys

This should fit on 3-4 pages and be easily visible for EMT's/Paramedics to notice. Just make up a word document and place it in an envelope. Make your name highly visible using the largest font you can fit on the envelope and have it state "medical records". Put a large red cross (easy to do with most word processors) on the front as well. If there is more than one person living at the home, a small picture of you on the front of the envelope helps to identify as well.

If you have decided you want no lifesaving measures, and have a legal DNR statement in that envelope, also add "DNR" on the front of the envelope. They will look inside for the legal paperwork.

Place it just inside the main door near a light switch if possible or the door most likely to be used, A simple tack will do, or on the refrigerator door. Those are two places EMT's are trained to look for medical info. Or at least I was.

And, as I stated before, If you see a lot of different doctors, as I do in my current situation, Have another copy of this paperwork, with more history and specific info about pain levels and other info a doctor can take the time to go over with you. And keep that current as well. Update at least monthly.

This is something I'm actually putting together now for my mother and I, and I thought I'd share it.

I keep a copy of my medical history in my wallet, and a USB thumb drive on my keychain that had all the same info... as well as copies in my son's backpack/diaper bag. I also keep copies of the restraining order and custody orders I have, which says my ex-wife isnt allowed within 500ft of me or my son, and grants me full legal and physical custody of him for life; I keep certified copies of those in several places, car, safe, his backpack, scans on my thumbdrive, and I have copies on file with the local PD and sheriff sub-station.

One of the big things that parents (specifically single parents with sole custody of their kids) tend to forget, is that, while a will or a trust will handle your wishes if you pass away, if you become incapacitated, the state takes custody of your children, at least for a couple days, until your family is able to get that situation taken care of... you need to have a trust set up, that grants either a friend or relative, full temporary guardianship of your child, while you are incapacitated... I was very fortunate that I wrote one out and had it witnessed and notorized, a day after I was granted custody of my son, less than a week later, I was hospitalized for two weeks with a bowel obtruction, and my ex did try to come for my son, but with the legal temp guardianship papers, and the restraining orders, as well as a signed note from the hospital saying what was going on, the sheriff not only made sure that my brother kept my son, but also got him set up with a carseat provided by the state, and had a lady from the county come out and teach him how to change diapers and a few other things, and they set him up with daycare so he could go to work the next day!

I think making sure my son is taken care of, is faaarrr more important than the medical info, but that's the way my brain works... and one issue my brother ran into, it would have made it a lot easier on him, if I would have made sure that he had my sons immunization records... so now he keeps a copy, as well as a copy of everything else. Always make sure that whoever is going to take care of your kids in an emergency is at least semi prepared to do so, with copies of the proper documents, a copy of your house key, and able to gain access to your bank accounts if needed.

It seems like you guys are all on the same page, the idea isn't to make EMS personnel search through your house, but to put it somewhere easily visible. Ie a decal on the door itself, or an envelope by the door, or a vial in the fridge or an envelope on the fridge.

This could also come in handy even if it's not for EMS. If a family member finds you unconscious or incapacitated, they'll need the same info.

Even if you're really sick the last thing you want to be doing it trying to direct everyone and make sure your wishes are followed.

It's not necessarily something any of us want to talk about but having a serious discussion with your caretaker or someone close to you, PLUS having things in writing, will go a long way to speaking for you if you suddenly cannot.

I would much rather have a hard conversation than make my family go through "not knowing" what I would *want* if the situation ever arose.

Great topic LC.

Hi guys,

I have recently purchased the med alert flash/thumb drive that can be worn as a bracelet or clipped to a keychain or to the handle of my purse. It is pre-loaded with all of the forms and other information in a very easily completed format and can now be loaded even while in the ambulance. I have two...one is clipped to my purse or the bag inside that holds my stim controller and the other can be worn as a bracelet.

I also wear a med alert necklace and bracelet pretty much all of the time. They make some really great ones now that are quite attractive, but clearly visible as med alert.

I keep a printed hard copy in my wallet, in my car and in the bag that has my med bottles in it for carrying around. I have the pharmacist make me extra "small" duplicate medicine bottles every few months so that I can keep some in my purse at all times. This prevents the horrors of traveling without meds or leaving them home because I always have a small "legal" amount with me just in case. They can be refilled if necessary.

Lastly, I have Rxmindme on my phone with all my meds and the times and dates I take them. It turns red when it has not been taken and turns black and records the time when you do. You can also add notes and download the data into a printable format when needed...and I have needed it once while at my Dr's office. She was quite impresses and wanted me to text her the app link, so she must have liked it.

Good luck!

All the ideas above are great. I use several of them.

I keep in addition my brief typed history and especially my list of medication intolerances (2 pages) on paper in a zippered plastic pillowcase envelope-like case the pillowcase came in. It's stiff enough to stand upright in my purse and not wrinkle papers folded in half.

I keep paper records because often a computer is not available.

I haven't tried yet, but I think I can store records on my smart phone.