Hey EMS, need input for an article I'm working on..

[MedicMama]

Some of you may know that I dabble in freelance writing ( dabble is the key word) :-)

Anyway, I'm working on an idea for an article on trauma prepardness. It's directed at the lay public, and I would like to focus on how to be prepared for an accident. This is going to be a short article, 1,000 words or less, as a filler peice. It might sound strange to be "prepared" for an accident, but the other day we went to an MVA. Was an out of state driver with no ID. We didn't know who he was, how to contact his realtives. Ended up that he wasn't even driving his own SUV, it was a friends. We later found out that he & friends were staying at a local hotel, and this guy ran to the store with only cash in his pocket..no wallet, no driver's license...and no seatbelt.

I also remember a similar story from our last EMS conference form a state patrol officer who happned upon a teenage girl who has crashed her car into a tree and was dead on scene. NO ID, no personal belongings, no seatbelt. She was driving her aunts car, I think. They had to trace her off the plates. Anyway, do you run into this every now and then? HOw do you think people could be prepared for the worst? I'm going to focus on having ID, having medical info, phone numbers of emergency contacts, having a first aid or survival kit within reach in the car, etc. And thoughts, comments or elaborations would be much appreciated. Or email me at ottoml@msn.com

;)

[IAMedic]

Everyone (well most responsible individuals, anyways) keeps a copy of their Insurance in their card, correct?? You should also keep a copy of your driver's license in the card. What I have done, is in my glove box, I keep an envelope with my insurance card and a copy of my driver's license. I also put my blood type on the card also. I have also seen Registration holders with all of the information etc. I have been looking for a company that sells them so that we can buy them and distribute them out at health fairs and other activities that we either sponsor or take part in. I have also thought about making cards, and laminating them with all of that information on it for the public. These registration holders include:

Name and Address
Phone Number
Blood Type
Pertinent Medical Information

Name and Address of Relative
Phone Number

Emergency Contact(s) and Phone Numbers

If anyone has seen these and knows where to get a hold of them, post it here.

Good Luck, Mama

[IAMedic]

Everyone (well most responsible individuals, anyways) keeps a copy of their Insurance in their car, correct?? You should also keep a copy of your driver's license in the car. What I have done, is in my glove box, I keep an envelope with my insurance card and a copy of my driver's license. I also put my blood type on the card also. I have also seen Registration holders with all of the information etc. I have been looking for a company that sells them so that we can buy them and distribute them out at health fairs and other activities that we either sponsor or take part in. I have also thought about making cards, and laminating them with all of that information on it for the public. These registration holders include:

Name and Address
Phone Number
Blood Type
Pertinent Medical Information

Name and Address of Relative
Phone Number

Emergency Contact(s) and Phone Numbers

If anyone has seen these and knows where to get a hold of them, post it here.

Good Luck, Mama

[littlemissemt]

Like people said, an ID, health insurance card, SEATBELT, medical info, blood type, make a info packet, etc.....

One thing to add.....a list of next of kin and ways to reach them.

Another....the name of the hospital they prefer, if they have a preference.

[NFfireman23]

One thing that I have seen....is treatment preferences. For religious or whatever reasons persons may not want to be given blood or blood based products. This info could be kept on the card that has your other pertinent info Also, medical conditions if you dont have the necklace, bracelet, or anklet.