Blog Post: Emergency Cards

Having an emergency card, with pertinent information about your condition, and last doctor’s visits and lab/imaging results is important. Keep this updated often. You can keep it as an Evernote Note, which you can access from your computer, Phone App, iPad APP or website; as a note in your computer, or just an Email in your inbox. We keep ours as an Evernote Note, as we are able to attach files and pictures.

An emergency card can be printed too, and save in your “To Go To Doctor’s” Binder also.

The emergency card is something that I would suggest every family have. It allows you to be informed, have all the information ready when you are talking to doctors and specialists. It comes in handy when you happen to be in an emergency situation or ER, and above all, you can clearly advocate on behalf of your child. It is imperative to have and maintain as you (a teenager) start moving into adulthood and being an advocate for yourself.

The template below is based on the information we keep track for each of our kids - you are more than welcome to tailor it to your own needs:

Last Update: Include the date of the Last time you updated this document.

Emergency Card for ___Name of Patient___

DOB: date of birth

Blood Type: ___

Allergies: Include here Food Allergies, Environmental, etc.

Medicine Allergies: Keep this separate from the regular allergies, it is essential to know.

Other important Information/diagnosis: Important information to diagnosis to keep track - you know those things that ask you at a doctors office that you wished you had handy: “when did your child say their first word? When did your child have her first period? When did your child take their first step? etc”

VP Shunt: (our kids have a VP shunt, hence the title of this section; but you can name it in accordance to the device your child has): Date it was placed and by which doctor and where (hospital) - if the device has been changed keep the information of the current one here and then in a section below (“Other”) keep track of previous devices.

Type: What type of shunt - our kids have a Programmable, so we also have information as the setting and all change settings made.

Shunt Setting: As mentioned above to track the settings of the programmable shunt, and why the setting has been changed.

Revisions: Keep track of all the revision surgeries (when, where, and by whom).

Other Surgeries:____

Total surgeries: ___ number___

Other Information: Include here emergency visits, and information worth having handy but not related directly to primary diagnosis, etc.

Appointments: [In the section below keep track of the LAST appointment as well as relevant information from previous one (like when a significant change to medication or setting was decided and by which doctor) - adjust the list of doctors and specialist to your needs, here are a few examples to include:]

Neurosurgeon: Last visit, results discussed, changes mades, decisions made, date for next visit. Include also pertinent information that it is important to keep track from previous visits (such as changes made to shunt setting; decisions made about procedures; etc.)

Pediatrician: Last visit, results discussed, changes mades, decisions made, date for next visit. Include also pertinent information that it is important to keep track from previous visits (such as changes made to shunt setting; decisions made about procedures; etc.)

Eye Doctor: Last visit, results discussed, changes mades, decisions made, date for next visit. Include also pertinent information that it is important to keep track from previous visits (such as changes made to shunt setting; decisions made about procedures; etc.)

Vaccine Information: Keep a copy of your child’s Vaccination record.

Other doctors throughout the years: (keep a list of other doctors/specialist you have seen and when was the last time you saw them (year; year & month would preferable; year, month and date would be best).

Best,

N. Nardi