An Emergency Contact Card and Medical Summary Template

Two documents, two purposes

1. The emergency contact card (wallet size). Carried by the person at all times, in a wallet, purse, phone case or on a lanyard. Quick facts for anyone who finds the person unwell outdoors or when responders arrive.

2. The medical summary (one to two pages). Kept at home in a known place and a copy in the hospital bag and with a family member. It gives a fuller picture for doctors and paramedics.

Also consider a digital copy, such as a photo on the phone's lock screen or an emergency medical information entry on the phone, if the person uses a smartphone; the information on the screen visible without unlocking can help responders. Weigh the privacy risk of showing medical data on a lock screen.

Emergency contact card: what to include

Use large, clear print, in a language that responders will understand (English plus the local language), and put the most important items first.

• Full name and preferred name.
• Date of birth or age.
• Home address, with landmark and floor.
• Emergency contacts: at least two or three people with relationship, phone numbers and an alternative number. State who is nearest.
• Doctor's name and phone number, and preferred hospital.
• Major conditions, in a few words: for example diabetes, high blood pressure, heart condition, kidney disease, epilepsy, dementia, stroke, asthma or COPD.
• Allergies, especially to medicines, with the reaction.
• Key medicines, especially blood thinners, insulin, heart medicines, steroids, and anything that must not be missed.
• Implants and devices: pacemaker, stent, artificial joint, hearing aid, oxygen, catheter.
• Blood group, if known and confirmed.
• Communication needs: deaf, poor eyesight, speaks only a particular language, dementia, uses dentures or spectacles.
• Do-not-resuscitate or advance directive, if one exists and the person and family have chosen this; see below.
• Date of last update.

Keep it short. A card can only hold so much, and the summary carries the details.

Medical summary: what to include

Aim for one page, two at most, with clear headings. Include:

Personal details - Name, age, date of birth, sex, address, language, religion if relevant to care preferences. - Identification: ID numbers where appropriate, insurance details, hospital registration numbers. - Contact people and their roles, including who makes decisions if the person cannot (health care decision-maker).

Current health conditions - A list of diagnoses, with dates if known: for example, type 2 diabetes since 2010, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, knee replacement 2021, stroke 2019. - Recent hospital admissions or operations. - Ongoing issues: breathlessness on exertion, recurrent falls, swallowing difficulty, continence problems, memory problems.

Medicines - A complete list: name (generic if known, as on the packet), dose, how often, what it is for and who prescribed it. Include tablets, injections such as insulin, inhalers, eye drops, creams, patches, herbal and ayurvedic products, vitamins and supplements. - High-risk medicines, such as blood thinners, insulin, steroids and those that should not be stopped suddenly. - Medicines to avoid or that have caused trouble. - Date the list was last checked with the doctor. See pill organiser guide, setting up a weekly medicine box and polypharmacy and deprescribing.

Allergies and reactions - Drug, food, latex or other allergies, with the type of reaction.

Baseline information - Usual blood pressure, blood sugar range, weight and oxygen level, if monitored; see normal ranges for older adults and keeping a health record at home. - Usual mobility: walks unaided, uses stick or walker, wheelchair. - Usual thinking and communication: clear, mild memory problems, dementia. - Vision, hearing, dentures. - Eating and drinking: diet restrictions, swallowing problems. - Continence. - Level of independence.

Tests and key reports - Recent important results, such as ECG, echocardiogram, kidney function, HbA1c, scans, with dates, or a note of where the reports are kept. - Vaccination status if relevant; see vaccines for older adults in India.

Treating doctors - GP or family doctor, specialists and hospitals, with phone numbers.

Wishes and plans - Preferences about hospital admission, resuscitation, life-sustaining treatment, organ donation and religious or cultural needs, if these have been discussed and recorded. See advance care planning in India and caring with religion and culture in mind. - Any legal documents, such as a power of attorney; see legal basics: wills and power of attorney. - Note: if a decision such as "do not resuscitate" has been made, ensure it follows a proper discussion with the doctor and the person. Do not copy it from someone else, and do not put it on a card without medical advice. Responders may still need to act unless there is a valid, recognised document, which varies by region.

Home and carers - Who lives with the person, who helps, the key arrangements (key safe, neighbour), pets. - Alarm devices used; see panic pendant buying guide and key safe guide.

Date prepared and who prepared it.

Where to keep copies

• Wallet or purse: the contact card.
• On the refrigerator door or beside the front door: the medical summary in a clear folder or envelope, with a sticker or note saying "Medical information", where responders can find it. Many families use the refrigerator, as paramedics in some countries are trained to look there; in India, tell your family and neighbours where it is.
• Bedside table or with the medicines.
• Hospital bag, ready to go; see emergency bag for a hospital visit.
• With family members, as a photo on their phones.
• With the neighbour or building security, in a sealed envelope, if the person is comfortable.
• On the phone, as a photo or in the emergency medical information feature.
• With the alarm provider, if there is one; see how an emergency alert system works.

Tell everyone involved where the documents are.

Keeping it up to date

An out-of-date list can be dangerous.

• Review every three to six months, and whenever a medicine changes, there is a new diagnosis, a hospital stay or a change in contacts.
• Write the date on each version, and throw away old copies.
• Link updates to events: every doctor visit, every pharmacy refill, the start of each season.
• Share changes with the family.
• Ask the doctor to check the medicine list at least once a year; see preparing for a doctor's visit with a parent.
• Keep the originals of reports in a file; see keeping a health record at home.

Privacy and consent

An emergency card and summary contain sensitive information.

• Involve the person. Fill it out together; ask what they would like included and who may see it.
• Share on a need-to-know basis. The card in the wallet is for responders; the summary for medical staff and trusted family.
• Do not post it online or share it widely in group messages.
• Store digital copies securely, with a password.
• Consider what is visible on a phone lock screen.
• Respect wishes about certain items, such as diagnoses a person does not wish to share widely.
• See privacy and dignity with monitoring.

Making it easy for responders

• Use plain language and avoid abbreviations only doctors know.
• Use large, legible type, black on white, in a font easy to read at a glance.
• Put the key information at the top.
• Keep the language simple: name both the condition and the treatment: "Atrial fibrillation: takes a blood thinner".
• Highlight critical points such as "ON BLOOD THINNERS" or "INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES".
• Include a photograph of the person, particularly for someone with dementia, in case they are found alone and unable to say who they are.
• Add directions to the home for ambulance crews.

Using the documents in an emergency

• Family or carers: call 112, give the key facts from the summary, and hand the summary to the paramedics.
• The person: keep the card on them; tell the neighbour where the summary is.
• At the hospital: give the summary to the triage nurse and the doctor. Ask them to note any new medicines.
• After the event: update the list.

See what to do after a fall, stroke warning signs and first hour and ambulance and emergency numbers in India.

When to ask a professional

Ask the doctor to check and sign the medicine list and condition summary, and to advise on what to record about resuscitation preferences. A pharmacist can print an up-to-date medicine list. A nurse can help prepare the summary. A lawyer can advise on legal documents. For information about services for senior citizens, call Elderline 14567. In an emergency, call 112.