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.

In my experience, often an LEO will collect your wallet and EMS/Rescue responders may never see or have access to the information until we touch base with the LEOs at the hospital.

If you have a significant medical condition, please use a Medical Alert device on your person; it is the standard alerting method every first responder knows. The Vial of Life is another good method, but be sure to keep it up to date, I have found many to contain meds that were no longer being used by the patient.

Pete

Good topic.

My card has the following info:

Name
Address
Phone Number

Date of Birth
Height
Weight
Doctor's name and phone number
Insurance provider info and number

Blood type
Known Conditions
Current Medications
Known Allergies

On the other side are four main contact numbers, two local, and two out of state.


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?





...

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.

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.

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

That's probably a good idea. We are expected to record the SSN as soon as possible, but it can wait until later.

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

"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.