What You Need to Know in an Emergency
Would you be able to recall vital information about your child's health in the event of an emergency? Many doctors suggest that parents keep a record of their children's important health facts handy. This can often help the medical team make a better and more rapid diagnosis of a problem at a time when time really counts.
Allergies
This is especially crucial if the child is allergic to any medications - penicillin, for example - or other antibiotics. Food allergies can come into play, too, so make note of anything your child has had a reaction to. Children who have been hospitalized in the past may have developed latex allergies. Often this information can help emergency personnel find a cause for problems such as breathing difficulties and passing out.
Medications
Your handy medical record should list any medications, including their dosages, that your child is currently taking. Some medications react badly when they are taken together, so the paramedics and doctors need this information BEFORE they give your child anything. You'll need to know when your child took the medication last, and how much was taken.
Pre-Existing Illnesses
It is also extremely important for emergency personnel to be told of any health problems or illnesses your child has had. For example, does your child have diabetes or asthma? These pre-existing conditions can have a tremendous impact on the type of tests and treatment administered in an emergency.
If your child has one of these chronic health problems you may want to have your child wear some kind of identifying tag on a necklace or bracelet. Often, this kind of rapid notification about an illness can help doctors save the life of the child. This is especially true if your child suddenly becomes ill at day care, school, or a friend's house.
Don't forget to keep the dates and types of operations a child may have undergone in the past. This may prove to be important to the course of treatment following an emergency.
Immunizations
Keeping a clear and up-to-date record of a child's babysitter, there is additional information you'll want to be able to supply. Besides knowing how to get in touch with you quickly. You should always leave the name and phone number of your child's doctor. This will help the caretaker get in touch with the office where your child's full medical history should be on file - in case you can't be reached for some reason. And if you're going to be away from your child for a long period of time, such as for a vacation or business trip, and you're leaving your child with a sitter or family member other than your spouse, you'll want to leave a release allowing that person to authorize medical care.
Still, in a life-threatening emergency a medical release wouldn't be necessary. Medical personnel are authorized to do what they must to save the life of someone involved in an accident or other emergency.
It doesn't take much to compile a written medical history for your child. And it could mean saving critical minutes - when they count most!
Updated and reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD