#185909 - 10/19/09 11:46 PM
What Info on "Emergency Info" card?
|
Enthusiast
Registered: 08/09/09
Posts: 392
Loc: San Diego, CA
|
Okay, you first responders that hang out here:
You're looking in my wallet for ID, and you see a bright-red-on-black "EMERGENCY INFO" sticking up from behind my driver's license. You pull it out and see . . .
What? What do you hope to find on that card? What are you most interested in?
Obviously, you're interested in medical allergies, any prescriptions and/or known medical conditions, and things like whether I smoke or drink, etc.
What about things like eyeglasses/contacts, dentures/bridges, medical history, family medical history, things like that?
_________________________
Okey-dokey. What's plan B?
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#185913 - 10/20/09 12:07 AM
Re: What Info on "Emergency Info" card?
[Re: Compugeek]
|
Addict
Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Northwest Florida
|
Okay, you first responders that hang out here:
You're looking in my wallet for ID, and you see a bright-red-on-black "EMERGENCY INFO" sticking up from behind my driver's license. You pull it out and see . . .
What? What do you hope to find on that card? What are you most interested in?
Obviously, you're interested in medical allergies, any prescriptions and/or known medical conditions, and things like whether I smoke or drink, etc.
What about things like eyeglasses/contacts, dentures/bridges, medical history, family medical history, things like that? Name, address, phone number, DOB, SSN (we are expected to have this, even from unresponsive patients found in the street), emergency contact info. As a first responder I need to know your major current medical conditions, medications and medication allergies. We can see your contacts and bridgework, and don't need information related to your propensity for illness, social history or minor conditions, like your family or smoking history or your tonsillectomy at age 10.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#186011 - 10/21/09 02:56 AM
Re: What Info on "Emergency Info" card?
[Re: Meadowlark]
|
Old Hand
Registered: 11/10/03
Posts: 710
Loc: Augusta, GA
|
Why do they need the SSN? I sure as hell won't carry my card with me. But, in the medical field it's used everywhere, which, is scary.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#186021 - 10/21/09 09:39 AM
Re: What Info on "Emergency Info" card?
[Re: Meadowlark]
|
Addict
Registered: 07/18/07
Posts: 665
Loc: Northwest Florida
|
I was always told that it was important to mention my contact lenses and sulfa allergy; if this isn't needed, why do so many cards include this information? If you are unresponsive and can't tell us about your contacts, or have an injury potentially involving the eye, we will certainly be looking into your eyes rather closely, and we'll see them. Allergies are important information.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#186022 - 10/21/09 10:46 AM
Re: What Info on "Emergency Info" card?
[Re: Jeff_M]
|
Old Hand
Registered: 11/25/06
Posts: 742
Loc: MA
|
Sorry, but my SSN wouldnt go on a card. The other info, sure, but with that PLUS the SSN, thats just identity theft waiting to happen
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#186032 - 10/21/09 01:12 PM
Re: What Info on "Emergency Info" card?
[Re: Meadowlark]
|
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/09/02
Posts: 1920
Loc: Frederick, Maryland
|
The information has at least two purposes:
For field providers, your name, age, meds, allergies and medical history are generally most important. From my perspective, as field provider, if you are unconscious / unresponsive, I will be treating your immediate life threatening condition(s), while it is nice to know the above information, it is not absolutely essential. Knowing your meds and medical history may or may not steer my priorities, but I am going to treat you, the patient and your current medical emergency. Knowing you are an insulin dependant diabetic may nudge me to check your blood glucose levels sooner, than if you are taking calcium channel blocker, where your signs and symptoms warrant me to consider cardiac emergencies as a priority.
In addition to the information above, the hospital most likely will benefit from the additional information such as contacts, SS#, insurance provider, doctors, etc. which may be needed to expand upon the treatment and for accounting applications.
Pete
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#186038 - 10/21/09 02:44 PM
Re: What Info on "Emergency Info" card?
[Re: oldsoldier]
|
Member
Registered: 03/27/08
Posts: 191
Loc: NYC
|
"Sorry, but my SSN wouldnt go on a card. The other info, sure, but with that PLUS the SSN, thats just identity theft waiting to happen"
I strongly agree with you, oldsoldier.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
0 registered (),
270
Guests and
3
Spiders online. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|