Emergency! Are You Prepared?

If your child is hurt, having seizures, or is not responsive, you must call an ambulance. Are you prepared to give all needed information to the responders without missing something? Most people are not.

Let’s look at some ways to make this critical situation go a little smoother.

1. Introduce Yourself to Responders.
   Does your local fire department and hospital emergency room know about your child? Go to the one nearest your house, introduce yourself and your child, make them aware of any special health-care needs in your house, give them a picture of your child with important information about them (e.g., diagnosis, information on how the diagnosis presents itself, equipment used, allergies, etc.).
    
2. Create a Medical Folder.
   Include information such as their doctor’s name/and contact information, medications, allergies, contact information, insurance information, special health-care needs or diagnosis. When you have a medical folder available and ready to hand to a responder, it saves time needed to help your child. Learn more about Care Notebooks on this website on Organizing Medical Records.
    
3. Keep Medicine Nearby.
   Keep medications and equipment your child must have in a safe and contained area that is easily accessible. When a responder asks to see them, you can get them quickly.
    
4. Identify an Adult Back-up.
   Have adult back-up support for other children you may have. Nothing is more stressful then having to care and attend to children when dealing with a child in need.
    
5. Display Your Address.
   Make sure your street address can be seen without any problems. Have it on the street curb in front of your house and on the home itself, if possible.

Most of all, keep calm! Stress and anxiety clutters your thoughts and actions, making it easy to miss something that may be important.