On 6th April 2017, my mother suddenly got ill and was rushed to the hospital. The experience taught me a lot and I decided to share the lessons that I learned about how to get ready for a medical emergency.
Why Do You Need To Plan For A Medical Emergency?
Before I talk about how to prepare, let’s get into why you should. Having a plan is incredibly important for several reasons:
- You can never predict when a medical emergency will occur. A plan will allow you and your family to know what steps to take if something goes wrong.
- The ability to react quickly can stop a bad situation from getting worse.
- A plan will lessen the anxiety associated with any predicament. When a loved one is sick or injured, your stress level goes through the roof. (Take my word for it!) Anything that can be done to reduce that is a win in my book.
How To Prepare For A Medical Emergency
Contact Information
When an emergency happens, it is important to know how to get in touch with others. In addition to emergency services, you will need to contact family, friends and neighbours.
Add contact information to your cell phone and also, write it down. Keep a hard copy in a central location in your home so that you have quick and easy access to it. Ensure that each member of your family has one. Place a copy in your kid’s school backpack and even the car. Written details are critical if your cell phone battery dies and computers are not available. Most people typically don’t memorize numbers anymore.
Below is a list of emergency services for which you should have contact information:
- Police
- Fire
- Ambulance
- Hospital/ Clinic
- Poison Control
- Pharmacy
- Doctor
- Pediatrician
- Dentist
- Veterinarian
- Service providers including electric, water and gas companies
Contact information for family, friends and neighbours should include:
- Name
- Home, cell and work phone numbers
- Email address
- Work address
- Name, address and phone number for each of your children’s schools
Be sure to include contact information for family and friends who live out-of-state or in different countries as well.
Every year, check that your emergency contact list is up-to-date and make any changes necessary. Print the new list and replace old copies.
Insurance Information
You definitely need to know your health insurance information in the event that someone needs medical treatment:
- The name of the insurance company
- Phone number
- Your policy number
- Knowing what your policy covers is also essential
Medical History
If a medical emergency occurs, it is always best to know the history of the patient. These details can aid emergency personnel tremendously:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Previous medical procedures
- Allergies to medications
- Current prescriptions
Living Will
A living will is a written statement that provides details about a person’s wishes for medical care if they can not express informed consent. (Stick with me! I know these things are difficult to think about.)
This document is different from the will that is used to allocate property or assets after death. It is important to have one because it prevents family and doctors from guessing what is best for you. These kinds of decisions can result in unpleasant disputes which may end up in court.
Power of Attorney
The power of attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more persons to help you make decisions or to make them on your behalf. It differs from the living will because someone else can make decisions for you.
I would recommend creating an emergency binder with contact information, insurance details and the medical history of each member of your family. Consider adding living will or power of attorney documents as well. That way if something happens, all the necessary information is in one place. Ensure that your family knows where the binder is stored.
Know The Signs
Recognizing warning signs of a medical emergency is essential to getting help as soon as possible. Some of these signs include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure lasting two minutes or more
- Fainting, sudden dizziness or weakness
- Changes in vision
- Difficulty speaking
- Confusion or changes in mental status, unusual behavior or difficulty waking
- Sudden or severe pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
This list is not exhaustive so if you believe someone is experiencing health issues, seek help right away.
If you are aware of family members’ pre-existing medical problems, ensure that you know the warning signs associated with their condition. For example, someone who suffers from hypertension is more prone to a stroke. In that case, knowing the symptoms of a stroke e.g. slurred speech and confusion would be important.
Take A First Aid Class
A first aid class teaches you how to respond to various medical emergencies. Knowing what to do can help to reduce the severity of the injury or illness. You will also feel more confident and may be able to stay more calm when you have training.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit contains the essentials needed to treat a medical emergency and common injuries. Whether you purchase one or make your own, check the supplies regularly. Replace expired products or ones that have been used up. Store your kit in an easily accessible location. Let everyone in the family know exactly where it is kept.
Medical ID Jewelry
Medical ID jewelry is worn on the wrists, neck or ankles. It is important to wear this kind of jewelry to indicate whether you have food or drug allergies or medical conditions. This makes it easier to figure out the possible cause of an emergency. Prescriptions and emergency contacts can also be engraved onto the jewelry.
Hospital Packing List
When packing for my mother’s hospital stay, I did not think to include certain items that she needed. Having a list will make life so much easier. I have created a free hospital packing checklist for you. Print it out and add it to your emergency binder.
Emergency Fund
A medical emergency usually comes along with expenses— doctors, tests, medication. It all adds up fast! Having an emergency fund allows you to pay these unexpected costs and avoid getting deeper into debt. Knowing that you have the money to get your family the treatment they need will be a relief as well.
When put to the test, I was more prepared than I realized. I knew my mother’s medical history, recognized the warning signs, had recently taken a first aid class and an emergency fund was available and easily accessible.
Having a plan allows you to be prepared and helps you to react quickly if an emergency occurs. It may seem a bit morbid preparing for bad events to arise but I can tell you from my experience, you will be so glad that you did!