Things You'll Need:
- Copies of your child's insurance card(s)
- Copies of your child's vaccination record and portable medical record
- A list of current medications, known allergies, and any recent injuries
- A basic first-aid kit to be stored in the car
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Step 1
Buy a 3-ring binder and plastic 8.5" x 11" sleeves to organize and protect copies of your family's insurance cards, medical records, and information regarding injuries and allergies. Store a binder in each car that regularly transports your children and update it annually or as often as the information changes significantly.
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Step 2
Type or write out a basic medical-care release form, sign it, and keep it in the front of the binder. It should read, "I, [insert your full name], am the [insert your relationship to the patient, e.g., mother] of [insert your child's full name] and am his/her legal guardian. I authorize medical care in the event of an emergency." This ensures that healthcare providers may legally and promptly treat your child, especially if you are not at the scene of an accident or are unable to give an answer.
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Step 3
Make a list of important contact numbers, such as your cell phone number and two or three additional emergency contacts. This ensures that emergency personnel can reach someone familiar with your children and their medical histories if you're not at the scene of an accident. Include this near the front of the binder.
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Step 4
Type or write out instructions a healthcare provider might need to comply with your insurance, including telephone numbers for pre-authorization of procedures or hospital admittance. Emergency care will generally be authorized after the fact, but it does not hurt to help physicians notify insurance carriers as soon as they can. File this information near the front of the binder.
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Step 5
If your children are old enough to comprehend the purpose of the binder, explain its contents to them and decide upon a convenient storage location for it in the car (e.g., under the driver's seat). This may help children provide their own information if you are not available in the event of an accident.
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Step 6
When your family travels out of area and especially out of state, take a minute to locate area hospitals or emergency clinics. You don't have to go overboard (trust me, it's easy to feel like a hypochondriac while doing this) -- just locate the medical facility nearest your hotel or relative's home, if visiting family, for example. Or, just ask at the hotel reception desk when you check in.
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Step 7
Finally, devise a system for knowing the basics of your physical location while traveling so you can provide accurate information to a 911 operator, if necessary. For example, you could print your hotel reservation receipts (if reserving rooms online) so you have each destination's address. Or, just know where to find this information quickly if it becomes critical. It also doesn't hurt to know your general travel patterns, such as major road numbers/names so you can accurately report an accident from the road.
