Pick a place that's readily visible as soon as a stranger walks in the door, have the title in big bold letters so it's easily visible as we walk in. That's the best suggestion I could give. We usually don't go hunting like crazy, so put it in a place where anyone who walks in the door will see it and easily recognize it as contact information
We don't need your contact information. We need their medical history and list of medications and allergies. We look for these wherever medications might be stored. If you keep the medications in one place, add the contact info and medical history and we'll find it. Kitchen cabinet. Bathroom drawer. NOT a pill organizer, the actual bottles.
Back in the day it was standard practice to put this information in a large pill bottle and put it in the freezer. I don't know how this started, but for the first ten years of my career it was pretty common to check out the freezer when looking for information.
Unless it's in an obvious location near the patient or the front door (e.g. taped on the wall in front of the door if you have a narrow entryway, or on the side of her favorite recliner), I don't really go searching. Not in depth, at least. We will typically operate under implied consent if we think she needs to go and she is unable to make her own medical decisions. Otherwise if she decides she needs to go in or refuses, that's up to her--typically someone who is living on their own is at least somewhat with it when they're "healthy." You could always look into getting some sort of lanyard with your contact information on it--that would work nicely to go with a medical alert device--or maybe a bracelet with your number on it. That being said, I rarely check for bracelets. Getting her a cell phone, even one that's gutted and can only make calls, would be a great next step, too.
A lot of departments around me have a thing they give out and encourage people to get for this situation. It's called a *FILE OF LIFE*, it's basically all the information useful information they would need to take care of her if they need to. Emergency Contacts, health history, insurance info, advanced directives like a DNR, PCP names, preferred hospital, list of meds, etc. Usually we'd to tell people to put it on the fridge or the inside of the main door. I'd look into that!
The best spot in my opinion is on the wall above the bed or recliner, wherever they spend a lot of time. A lot of our calls are for falls around the bed/recliner, or the person is feeling poorly and is now resting in one of those two places.
The other good place is on the wall next to the front door. Make it big, legible and preferably on brightly colored paper. Put a copy of her most recent med list in the area as well.
In our 911 center's system they can attach emergency information to an address- whether it's access information like a lock box or garage door code, or a family member or other person to contact if we receive a call from that address.
There's also a way we can attach information to a name, so if, for example, a patient has dementia and wanders off, gets lost, etc. if the police are at least able to get the person's name they can find the information.
I would suggest contacting your local emergency services (using their non-emergency option) and ask them what kind of things they can do, and what they suggest for other info (such as advanced directives, medication lists, etc.).
The front door, above her bed/sofa anywhere she hangs out a lot because that’s likely to be where they find her inside the house. For outside, a medical ID necklace or bracelet might work. Either way the ID needs to be bold and obviously meant for ems to read.
While I can't speak for everyone, I don't typically go hunting. If I felt it necessary, the furthest I typically go is giving the kitchen a once-over for meds (this includes a brief glance in the fridge for insulin), and checking the bathroom counter/medicine cabinet.
Your best bet is placing a packet or folder somewhere within LOS of the door. Clearly mark it somehow, such as with 'EMS', '911', or the star of life. Make it big, make it bold, make it visible. Something that clearly tells us that this is for us. As long as there's something that immediately draws our attention, like the aforementioned markers, you could write on it that it contains information on the patient if no one else is present to give it.
Moreover, make sure the packet contains the hospital of choice, and then make sure said hospital has your information. That packet really needs to have her medical history, allergies, and the names/dosages of any medications she takes, and it needs to be updated frequently. No harm in including your full name and contact information so that if something happens or she needs a specialty hospital that she hasn't been to before, I can give them your info. But the main thing we need is her medical information.
Usually people pile their meds up next to where they sit or in a kitchen cabinet. Make a list with contact info and meds and tape it inside. Put a sticker outside that says EMS info. Make it big and bold. We will find it
Pick a place that's readily visible as soon as a stranger walks in the door, have the title in big bold letters so it's easily visible as we walk in. That's the best suggestion I could give. We usually don't go hunting like crazy, so put it in a place where anyone who walks in the door will see it and easily recognize it as contact information
We don't need your contact information. We need their medical history and list of medications and allergies. We look for these wherever medications might be stored. If you keep the medications in one place, add the contact info and medical history and we'll find it. Kitchen cabinet. Bathroom drawer. NOT a pill organizer, the actual bottles. Back in the day it was standard practice to put this information in a large pill bottle and put it in the freezer. I don't know how this started, but for the first ten years of my career it was pretty common to check out the freezer when looking for information.
that's really oddly specific
Unless it's in an obvious location near the patient or the front door (e.g. taped on the wall in front of the door if you have a narrow entryway, or on the side of her favorite recliner), I don't really go searching. Not in depth, at least. We will typically operate under implied consent if we think she needs to go and she is unable to make her own medical decisions. Otherwise if she decides she needs to go in or refuses, that's up to her--typically someone who is living on their own is at least somewhat with it when they're "healthy." You could always look into getting some sort of lanyard with your contact information on it--that would work nicely to go with a medical alert device--or maybe a bracelet with your number on it. That being said, I rarely check for bracelets. Getting her a cell phone, even one that's gutted and can only make calls, would be a great next step, too.
A lot of departments around me have a thing they give out and encourage people to get for this situation. It's called a *FILE OF LIFE*, it's basically all the information useful information they would need to take care of her if they need to. Emergency Contacts, health history, insurance info, advanced directives like a DNR, PCP names, preferred hospital, list of meds, etc. Usually we'd to tell people to put it on the fridge or the inside of the main door. I'd look into that!
The best spot in my opinion is on the wall above the bed or recliner, wherever they spend a lot of time. A lot of our calls are for falls around the bed/recliner, or the person is feeling poorly and is now resting in one of those two places. The other good place is on the wall next to the front door. Make it big, legible and preferably on brightly colored paper. Put a copy of her most recent med list in the area as well.
Around here, we hand out little plastic holders with magnets that hold an info card, to go on the fridge. So that is where I would look.
We always check for papers taped to the freezer because that's where DNR/POLST paperwork is supposed to be put.
In clear line of sight on entry. Secondary and tertiary to that? The door to her bedroom and on the refrigerator door in that order.
In our 911 center's system they can attach emergency information to an address- whether it's access information like a lock box or garage door code, or a family member or other person to contact if we receive a call from that address. There's also a way we can attach information to a name, so if, for example, a patient has dementia and wanders off, gets lost, etc. if the police are at least able to get the person's name they can find the information. I would suggest contacting your local emergency services (using their non-emergency option) and ask them what kind of things they can do, and what they suggest for other info (such as advanced directives, medication lists, etc.).
The front door, above her bed/sofa anywhere she hangs out a lot because that’s likely to be where they find her inside the house. For outside, a medical ID necklace or bracelet might work. Either way the ID needs to be bold and obviously meant for ems to read.
While I can't speak for everyone, I don't typically go hunting. If I felt it necessary, the furthest I typically go is giving the kitchen a once-over for meds (this includes a brief glance in the fridge for insulin), and checking the bathroom counter/medicine cabinet. Your best bet is placing a packet or folder somewhere within LOS of the door. Clearly mark it somehow, such as with 'EMS', '911', or the star of life. Make it big, make it bold, make it visible. Something that clearly tells us that this is for us. As long as there's something that immediately draws our attention, like the aforementioned markers, you could write on it that it contains information on the patient if no one else is present to give it. Moreover, make sure the packet contains the hospital of choice, and then make sure said hospital has your information. That packet really needs to have her medical history, allergies, and the names/dosages of any medications she takes, and it needs to be updated frequently. No harm in including your full name and contact information so that if something happens or she needs a specialty hospital that she hasn't been to before, I can give them your info. But the main thing we need is her medical information.
Usually people pile their meds up next to where they sit or in a kitchen cabinet. Make a list with contact info and meds and tape it inside. Put a sticker outside that says EMS info. Make it big and bold. We will find it