Emergency Preparedness- Own the Process & Be Ready

It’s never too late to be prepared.

We’ve all heard stories of someone who fell and didn’t get help for an extended period because they weren’t close to their landline. Different degrees of injury and medical acuity require a timely response in order to prevent a potentially terrible situation.

Similar to having a fire extinguisher in your home or a first aid kit, having resources to acquire help and a plan in place for a medical emergency can be a life-saving preventive measure that is easy to establish. We will focus on a simple 4-point plan— assurance, communication, access, and information.

Assurance of Support:

• Registering with your local EMS is a great way to secure support in case of an emergency medical event. We recommend you reach out to your local service and see what they offer in regards to registering your home, providing medical information, home access information, and any other critical information.

• Consider establishing a check-in system with a trusted family member/caregiver/friend. With this system, you would provide the ability to access your home (key/door code/etc) to a trusted person and establish an expected “check-in” within a predetermined period of time (for some, it could be daily, every other day, or weekly). If this communication is not answered/returned within a reasonable timeframe, then the trusted person performs a physical visit to the home to ensure safety.

• This idea of having a trusted person leads us to our next recommendation - preemptive establishment of a power of attorney. We cannot stress enough the importance of proactively establishing a medical & financial power of attorney in case of emergency. Some may view this as a loss of control or autonomy, but it truly is a safety net and security feature for your wishes, assets, etc. in the event of an emergency. Choosing a family member, friend, or caregiver to align yourself with can provide you with an advocate and guardian in a time of need.

Emergency Communication:

• The faster we can call for help, the faster the response will be by emergency personnel. With certain medical events, such as a stroke or heart attack, the minutes post-event are precious, and we want to be ready. It is critical to ensure you have access to effective communication for potential emergencies.

• Consider the following:

  • Having a charged cell phone on your person at all times with preset emergency contacts

    • A call system, such as a life alert or pendant, that alerts a chosen family member/caregiver/friend.

    • A device, such as an Apple Watch, that has a fall detection feature and the ability to make calls.

    • Alexa devices to be placed throughout the home. For example, “Alexa call 911 to (address)” or “Alexa call (child’s name).”

Home Access:

• We want to have clear access to our residence to accommodate emergency personnel. This will ensure they can access and navigate the home as quickly as possible to respond to a medical event and/or fall.

• Consider the following:

  • Clearly labeled, visible number outside of the front of the home or apartment.

  • Entry ways and walkways to be cleared of clutter.

  • Front door handle or garage door that has a keypad — a code could be provided to EMS if possible need for entry.

Accessible Medical Information:

• Easy access to important medical information is a fantastic way to prepare for emergencies. This way, emergency personnel and our loved ones can immediately know the critical items regarding our health as well as wishes. We recommend the Vile Of Life product, a clearly labeled emergency sheet on the refrigerator/back of the door, a medical bracelet, and even a card in your wallet that states information such as:

  • Names & contact information for family/caregiver/friend/etc. who you would want them to contact

  • Preferred Hospital

  • Doctor names (PCP/specialists)

  • Important Medications

  • Wishes (DNR/Organ Donation/etc.)

  • Important medical conditions (diabetes, allergy, etc.)

Our goal is to foster the likelihood of a fast response and correct care during an emergency. Taking the time to prepare for these situations now can mean lifesaving measures later. Once established, this plan can help you and your loved ones rest easy knowing you are prepared for an emergency.

“Hindsight is always twenty-twenty” -Billy Wilder

Written by Dina Holland, MS-CCC SLP CDP

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