Any adult in America has a Driver's License or State ID card in their wallet. New research in accident prevention and survivability shows that the more information emergency crews have, the better they can treat you.
4 Must-Haves in Your Wallet
- Drivers' License
- Auto Insurance Card
- Drug/Allergy Information
- Contact Phone #
Drug/Allergy Information Card
This card is simply an index card cut down to the size of an ID card that contains the following information:
Top Line: Allergies
Remaining Lines: Medications - Name, dosage, frequency
Example:
- Allergy - Iodine
Medications -
- Imitrex - 50mg - as needed
- Prevacid - 75mg - 1 every 12 hours
On the back of this card put the contact information for your primary care doctor or clinic, so that paramedics or emergency rooms can call and get clarification on the medications that you are taking. Among other benefits, drug interactions are reduced. Consciousness is not necessary to provide accurate information.
Also of note is the recommendation to change the size and color of the allergy notification - make it prominently observable, especially if it is a condition that causes anaphylaxis, which is a restricting of the airways. If you carry an EpiPen for emergencies, list the general location of the EpiPen on your medical information card. One suggestion is that you make the text red in order to draw as much attention to it as possible.
Another suggestion is to make sure that the person who is listed in your cell phone as a primary point of contact in case of emergency has a copy of your emergency information card. That way, he will be able to communicate with emergency services personnel in the event that you are unable to speak.
Make sure that you update the contact person's information as well any time you have significant changes in your medical history, such as changing the dosage or a medication entirely. This way the paramedics have the best possible chance of helping you.
One other suggestion is to keep a few of your pills with you in a bag or pill carrier in case you need an extra dose while you are out. However, if you plan on traveling on an airplane make sure to keep all of your medications in your carry on luggage in their original containers because they are likely to be confiscated by Airport Security.
By having as much information as possible easily accessible you greatly improve your chance of successfully surviving an emergency from a car wreck to an earthquake. Remember, the more information that you provide and the more accurate you keep your files, the more help you will be.
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