Preparing for the Unexpected
Last weekend while visiting a friend and her family for lunch Her grandfather is ill, and there was a phone call. One where you don’t think, just go. Fortunately her grandfather was not seriously injured and returned home later that afternoon. And as I watched my friend and her family organise themselves to follow him to the hospital, it occurred to me that I’m not nearly as organised as I’d like to be.
I’m prepared for flood, cyclone and emergency evacuation. Living in the tropics it’s kind of a necessity. Insurance papers, spare cash/credit cards, birth and marriage certificates, passports, bank account details all in one handy, easy to carry waterproof container. But a trip to the hospital? Nope. I know the basics. Mobile phone, coins for the vending machines, phone book (thankfully these days the mobile phone doubles for that), Medicare card (already in my purse). But this is where I realised I’m missing something. Medical histories. Prescriptions. Dosages. Allergies. Hubby is asthmatic, so this kind of information could be life and death if it came to it. And what if it’s me that has to go? I know where everything is. The Hubby doesn’t.
So I’m on a mission. An emergency grab bag for “medical emergencies”. And really, with kids, isn’t it inevitable? We have already made a couple of dashes to hospital and doctors for M&M.
I’m thinking maybe a sandwich zip lock bag that can stored close to the evacuation container, and that can also be grabbed in the case of evacuation.
And here’s what’s going in:
$20 in gold coins for vending machines (our local hospital doesn’t have a café, but the nurses are lovely and will make you tea and coffee)
Private Health Cover details
Medical histories for everyone
Medication & prescription details for everyone (Hubby and Kiki are both on constant medication)
Allergies lists for everyone
Some long life/high energy snacks (kid friendly ones)
Have I missed anything?
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Good idea. What about a small container of activities for the kids in case you’re stuck waiting with one or other of them? I have a pencil case in my bag with a couple of pencils, some paper, a couple of matchbox cars etc. Just a thought!
You are organised! I can’t think of anything else except water, but that wouldn’t fit in the bag anyway:)
If it’s anything like our hospitals though, a novel to read would be on my list. It’s often a long wait.
For an emergency, you need to make sure that you don’t have to think about what you need to take or do. Lists - not 50 million of them or anything, but if it was you, would Hubby know things like the phone number for your girls childcare etc, or where to find it. The big things are easy to think about but it might be some little thing that could make all the difference.
Cant think of anything else………. except a list of important numbers in case it is you and someone else doesn’t know how to work your phone.
Phone numbers of family and friends that need to be notified in emergencies.
gosh I read this and was reminded of when my dad suddenly collapsed, I went to the local hospital and it was over 5 weeks before I came home again. What you have listed is really good, especially the coins and the snacks. I would add $100 cash if you don’t have credit cards, we had to find accomodation in a strange city (4 hours away from home in the middle of the night) cash would have been handy.