August 2008, Issue 10

In Case of Emergency...

Last summer, my family and I encountered a sudden and serious emergency that made me understand first-hand the value of being organized. While vacationing abroad, my mother was hospitalized, and spent a week intubated in the ICU. Immediately, my sister and I had to scramble around, searching for doctors' numbers, the names and dosages of medications she takes, and any other important information that was necessary to relay to the doctors abroad.

The stress of this unexpected scare was suddenly compounded by the additional stress of having to find out all of this critical information within hours. Thank goodness, one year later, my mom is much better, and we now know that while we cannot control what happens, we can control how prepared we are to face whatever may come our way.

This month, organize your emergency essentials.

1. Take Inventory. Make it a priority to gather all of your financial, medical, and personal information. If you have children, you write down their information too. Here are some suggestions about what to include:
   • bank account numbers (and passwords to access them)
   • social security number and date of birth
   • phone numbers of doctors, family members and close friends
   • medicines you're taking and the dosages you're on (if you're taking them at a specific time, or time of day, include that too)
   • allergies or medical conditions you have (whether minor or serious)
   • insurance information (life and health)
     
     
2. Think Ahead. Now is the time to make some important decisions. Do you want to be an organ donor? Have you prepared a living will? (To learn about what a living will is, or to find out more information, visit www.uslivingwillregistry.com). Consult family members or financial and medical professionals for further guidance.
   
   
3. Keep a Copy. Once you have consolidated all of your emergency info, make some copies for yourself. Keep one in your paper files, one saved on your computer, and another in your wallet (with only your medical contacts and conditions for this one - in case your wallet is ever stolen, you don't want your social security number and bank accounts to become public knowledge).
   
   
4. Help Others Help You.. This information will only serve its full purpose if you share it with your close friends and family. Providing them with this essential information will keep your family and doctors informed about critical decisions you have made, your health history, and financial essentials. Email them copies or create a database that can be accessed with a password; this way, you can share the information with only those people that are closest to you.
   
   
5. Pass It On. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. Create a virtual folder on your computer, or one in your files, to house their essential information. This way, in case of emergency, you will be able to approach the situation as calmly and clearly as possible, and direct your attention to what's most important.