Preparing for Emergency Medical Services

It's important to keep certain medical information readily available in case of emergencies. Ambulance crews will need this basic information to provide the best care for emergency victims.

Be sure to organize the information and make sure it is accessible at all times. Use a Medical Information Sheet and include the following:

• Name
• Birthdate
• Medication and food allergies
• Prescription medications (include doses and schedules)
• Chronic conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc)
• Any reasons for hospitalizations (heart attacks, strokes, major surgeries, etc)
• Doctor's name
• Hospital preference
• Medical insurance information

Note: Never put a social security number on this list.

Keeping this information handy will speed up the emergency care.

While Waiting for the Ambulance

As the ambulance is responding to your emergency, there are some things you can do to help emergency crews find you. Make sure to try to do as many of these things as possible to prepare for the ambulance's arrival:

• Lock up the dogs or other pets
• Turn on the porch light
• Gather the victim's personal medical information
• Send someone to meet emergency crews and guide them to the victim
• Move cars & furniture out of the way to allow access with a gurney
• Don't forget to keep an eye on the victim