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| Home > Fact
of the Week > What's
In Your Wallet? |
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01-30-2012
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Services Specialist -
Kings County Public
Health Department |
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What's
In Your Wallet?
Tips
of How to Make Emergency Card | Printable
Article (PDF) | Download
PDF Reader
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A
few years ago I wrote an article entitled “What’s
in Your Wallet” that I’d like
to share again. Our wallets have seemed
to become our catch all for everything
from receipts, coupons, gift cards, meal
cards, membership and pet cards, insurance
cards, not to mention credit cards and
cash. Let’s see…what else?
Oh, yes…emergency contact
information.
You may be thinking that having all your
important numbers in your cell phone is
enough, right? There’s nothing easier
than having your entire phonebook/directory
on your cell phone. But what if something
happens to your phone? What if someone
had to call on your behalf; where would
they find your information? Some of us
may carry a card with our spouse’s
information or someone who can be called
in case of an emergency. But is that enough?
I mean, what would happen if the person
you have on your emergency card cannot
be reached? Do you have a backup plan?
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All
Plans and Lists Should Go Three Deep
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In
other words, three sets of information.
You just never know when someone may
need to be contacted on your behalf and
the one on your list is unavailable.
What if it was a medical emergency? Do
you have something prepared that you
carry with you at all times so that help
can be called? I like to keep a card
the size of a business card either behind
or next to my driver's license (it all
depends on the style of the wallet).
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- Once
you have your cards in place, it is always
a good idea to check them periodically
for any changes. I like to use the old
standby of checking them twice a year
when the time changes, or whenever you
take the time to clean out your wallet…which
ever comes first.
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- Print
or type "Emergency Contact Information" at
the top of your card. Big bold underlined words
are easier seen.
- You
may print the information on a card or type
on a standard label that you can cut to size
and place over your card.
- Complete
a contact card for each family member.
Your information should include contact name, the relationship of this
person to you, and their home, work and cell number. If you have room,
you may also add their home and work address. You can never have too
much contact information.
- If
you use a blank card, you can put information
on both the front and the back; no need to
cram it all on one side.
- If
you have a business card, you can put your
information on the back of it.
- Index
cards work well. They are
sturdy and easy to cut to size.
- Colorful
cards really stand out and may be easier
to spot than your standard information.
- And
last but not least….if you choose to write
out your information, please print clearly!
We can always read our own writing, but other's - especially in an
emergency situation - may not be able to.
You may think you don’t have time for one more little project,
but what you don’t have time for is a worried family wondering
where you are if something where to happen to you. Imagine if you will
that you have to be taken to the hospital and you don’t have
an emergency card with you. The hospital staff cannot immediately locate
your family members or access medical information that would be critical
to treating you. Unfortunately, some patients die in emergency rooms
without any of their family members present. By the time the family
members are eventually notified, it is often too late. With that in
mind, could you find the time to make an emergency contact information
card for your wallet? Be smart, be safe. Until next time…..
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Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Be
Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Teaming
Up for Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth Hall
Kings County Public Health Department
330 Campus Drive
Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 852-2634
www.kingscountyoem.com
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