HOW TO PREPARE FOR A HEALTH EMERGENCY

No one expects to be in an accident but, if you are, and if you end up in a state where you can’t speak with the emergency responders, taking steps to prepare for such an eventuality may help to save your life.

1 in 3 of us have an underlying medical condition which requires specialist medical treatment, putting us more at risk when faced with an emergency situation, yet recent research conducted by Medical ID charity MedicAlert reveals only 27% of this group would know what to do if the worst happened.

An estimated 15 million people in England suffer from chronic or long-term illnesses which often require lifelong and specialist treatment1 – including diabetes, heart disease and allergies. For this group, it is essential that emergency responders are aware of their condition in order to provide the correct treatment without delay, to help save their life. Yet 69% would not think to wear a medical ID, whilst 14% do not have an emergency contact in place.

With access to the individuals’ vital medical information, emergency professionals can identify the cause of symptoms quicker and tailor treatment to the medical conditions they are dealing with, increasing the likelihood of survival and reducing further complications.

In order to better help you prepare, Emergency Medicine Consultant and Charity Trustee at MedicAlert, Dr Masha Finn, shares her advice on the steps you should take to protect your life, should the worst happen.

Medical ID jewellery

Wearing a medical ID – normally either a bracelet or necklace – is the best way to inform those caring for you in an emergency of any medical conditions you may have.

Medical IDs are engraved with your most vital medical information, such as your conditions and allergies, as well as any medications you may be on and are clearly displayed at your pulse points – the first-place paramedics and other medical staff are trained to check.

Medical ID charity MedicAlert offers the UKs only full medical ID service, providing bracelets and necklaces backed up by a full record holding all the key medical information required to support you in an emergency. This further information is accessed via a 24/7 emergency line available from anywhere in the world. This ensures that paramedics and other healthcare or emergency professionals can easily identify your medical information. By not relying on technology, this failsafe solution keeps you protected wherever you are.

Medical ID Apps

With 87% of UK adults now having a smartphone, using a medical ID app can be useful for those wanting to store their medical information for quick access, should they need to remind themselves of medications or complex condition names. These apps allow you to store all your key information on your phone, meaning it can be easily updated and changed.

However, technology shouldn’t be used as a replacement for physical medical IDs as apps aren’t as recognised by emergency responders. In an emergency, phones can become separated from the individual, be hidden out of plain sight, obtain a broken screen or have a dead battery, all of which renders the app useless.

Emergency Contacts

When in an emergency, responders may need to contact somebody close to you to inform them of the situation. Make sure your emergency contacts are easily accessible and up to date – many people will store them on their phone, although most phones nowadays are password protected, so a better way is to keep a small card of your emergency contacts in your wallet or handbag to ensure those first on scene know who to contact.

However, as paramedics or A&E staff will not look through your belongings whilst treating you, the best solution is to also store this information on your medical ID record. Medical ID systems that are backed up by full records have the ability to store multiple contacts as well as key information that needs to be acted upon were you to be incapacitated.

As well as next-of-kin, you may want those caring for you to know about dependents who are home alone, children who won’t be picked up if schools or clubs are not informed, or even pets who need to be walked and fed.

Label Any Medication

Carrying medication that you need in the event of an emergency could save your life. Medications such as EpiPens and inhalers are vital in an emergency, therefore carrying it with you means those around you can administer it before emergency responders arrive, increasing your chance of survival.

Make sure any medications are clearly labelled and, in cases where its usage is complicated, try to attach simple instructions so those who first come to help can administer the medication quickly and without complication, helping to stabilise you. You can also have a note on your medical ID such as ‘carries EpiPen’.

Dr Masha Finn concludes: “No matter how you choose to have your information to hand, it is vital that you carry your medical information with you. All these steps can help to save your life in the event of an emergency but, for those living with a known medical condition, medical IDs are the most reliable and recognised way of alerting paramedics to your vital information.”