Author’s note: This topic is far different from most I write about, but I think it is the most important blog post I’ve ever shared with you. This advice helped prepare me for an emergency.
My husband Rich suffered a heart attack on January 5. He’d been having some chest pain, and our doctor instructed us on what to do if we had to go to emergency. For several nights one thing that kept me up was the fear that I would not remember my street address if I had to call 911.
Our doctor ordered blood work and a stress test and referred Rich to a cardiologist. The cardiologist ordered an echocardiogram and a heart catheterization. Two days before the scheduled heart catheterization, Rich had a heart attack.
It was 1 a.m. when Rich woke me from a sound sleep and said, “I think you need to take me to emergency.” The terror froze me as I scrambled for clothes. Then he collapsed. MY CPR training was decades old, but I did my best. He came to and spoke. All my imagining paled by comparison to the reality of that moment. But when I called 911, I remembered my address.
I credit that success with a suggestion my daughter Kate gave me which also aided the emergency responders as they worked on him.
I want to pass on this suggestion to you.
Create a document with all pertinent medical and contact information for all members of your household. Include:
Family information
Names of all family members or people in your household
Address including closest cross street or other identifiable directions
All phone numbers, cell phones and landlines.
Contact information
Emergency contact name, address, and phone numbers
Primary Care Physician name, address, and phone number
Name and policy number of medical insurance
For each family member:
Medications including dosage (you will need to bring these to the hospital)
Allergies to medications
Food allergies
Vitamins and supplements including dosage
Removable dental items
You may have additional information you need to add such as chronic illnesses, prosthetic devices, medical conditions that the EMT and ambulance crew need to know about.
I’m sure there are other issues that I haven’t even thought of that you might be dealing with. Whatever information you think would be helpful in an emergency situation, write it down.
Then keep a document in a file on your laptop, iPad, mobile device where you can easily find it. I have a folder called Health/Wellness.
Also have a printed copy somewhere easily accessible. Mine is behind a large magnet on the side of my refrigerator. You might tape it to a mirror in your bathroom or bedroom. I also gave a copy to my daughter Kate who is our emergency contact person.
I think this is the most important blog I’ve ever written. I hope you never have to use this document, but if you do, you will be so grateful to have that information at your fingertips.
When I wrote my One Little Word blog a couple weeks ago, this was not the kind of Pause I had in mind. We continue to pause as we await his second heart catheterization this week. But my heart is full of gratitude that Rich is okay, for the medical staff that took care of him, and for my daughter Kate’s wisdom in helping me deal with a very scary event.
Wishing you all good health.
Thank you Betty for this great article. So glad Rich is okay as well. Give him my love 🙏🏻💕
Thanks, Maureen. Rich is doing much better. He started cardio rehab this week. I will pass along your wishes to him.
I didn’t know this had happened and am so glad Rich is okay. We went through a lot of scary incidents with my mom, so I know it’s important to be prepared, but I’m going to create these documents for us now. Thank you for the information. Praying now for Rich’s recovery and for you.❤️
Thank you, Lucy. I am so grateful to my daughter Kate for passing this information on to me. I wanted to do the same. I’m glad you find it helpful.
Glad Rick is okay. So scary when things like this happen.
Yes, Susanne. Scary for sure. Thanks for your good wishes.
How terrifying for you both. Let’s choose to believe that crossed fingers, hopes, and prayers do some good because I’m doing all of those for you.
And yes, this is an extremely important post. I’m printing it as soon as I send this, creating our document, and adding it to the bulletin board with the symptoms of stroke.
Thank you!
Jenny, I absolutely believe that crossed fingers, hopes, and prayers do a lot of good. Thank you for sending them our way. I’m so glad you found this helpful.
I am thinking of you and Rich and sending healing thoughts. Thank you for sharing this important information, it will be so much easier to do it at a time when I am not stressed. Hugs.
Thanks for your healing thoughts, Barb. Yes, I was so glad I did it as soon as Kate gave me the idea. I think it helped me to think clearly when everything was so frantic.
One of the things I am always asked about and never prepared for is past surgeries and when. I have done the best I can to reconstruct “my life” in writing so in an emergency I don’t have to try to remember my family’s medical history or mine. The hospital gives you these assignments as a means to distract you or drive you crazy!!! And always at a time when you would rather not be bothered. Have it ready, please. I am so glad your husband is okay and you were able to remember your address!!! You did well, my friend.
Thank you, Deb. Your affirmation means a lot to me. Yes, past surgeries would be a valuable piece of information to add to the document.
So sorry to learn of this news. So glad that Rich is recovering. The lesson you provide is most helpful! Wishing you both the best of health in 2022.
Thanks, Diana. I’m so glad you found this helpful. Thanks for your good wishes for the rest of 2022.
What a scary time for both of you. So glad Rich recovered enough to go to the hospital. You’re right, this is an important post. Your list of things to have handy is excellent. I made a spreadsheet of my Hubs’ meds (mine, too, but separate): dosage, how often taken, what for, and doc who prescribed. I keep it in my wallet. The ER nurses have always thanked me for being prepared.
Knowing the symptoms of potentially fatal diseases is essential. At a local lab, I noted a sign FAST, signs of a stroke: Facial drooping, Arms (legs) weakness, Speech, Time to call 911 (also, note the time). When my Hubs started speaking nonsense, I was pretty sure he was having a stroke. Getting the person to the ER immediately means the docs can administer an essential drug. I made the mistake of driving him to the ER. I should have called 911. Even though our hospital is 15 minutes away, a lot can happen in 15 minutes.
I will add one more thing. Never be afraid to call 911. Your smart cell phone has a locator, giving the operator your address (so does your landline). The operator will still ask your address to verify. I’ve had to call at least 3x and found the operators to be so helpful.
Again, I’m so glad Rich survived. Hugs to you both.
Diane, you have been through this multiple times, so you know how scary it is. Thanks for the FAST reminder of stroke symptoms. That would be another good blog post. It’s also reassuring to know that our phones can help locate us. I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe now.
So glad Rich was okay. Sending you both a virtual hug and well wishes.
Diane Burton shared a medical tip for recognizing a stroke, which I have on my fridge. I’ll be adding your recommendation.
Thanks for your well-wishes, Anne. Yes, I know there is an acronym for the symptoms of a stroke. I’ll add that to my document, too.