Organizing > TipsDecember 17, 2009

Keep an Emergency Envelope in Your Purse

My family knows if I am ever in need of medical help and can't speak for myself to get the orange envelope out of my purse. Orange is my favorite color and easily found in my purse. In this envelope I keep: my medical card, medicare card, social security card, list of my medications and medical conditions, card from eye doctor with eye problems on it, hospital choice, list of doctors, etc. I also have a copy of my living will in the envelope. If I have an appointment, I can get at my 'insurance' cards easily, seems they have to copy them every time I go. Keeping the info all together saves time and could save a life.

By knitter926 from bloomington, IL

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By
12/20/2009

Hello - this is a good idea and I have done this for many years. But please do not put your Social Security card in this envelope.
Officials recommend that you keep your SS card at home in a safe place as it is not required (or should not be) for doctors or anything any more. You can memorize your number just in case but should not have it in your purse.
ER people need your present medications and anything that you cannot take more than they need any other info. Medications will tell them a lot about you.

By
12/19/2009

I don't plan to need this (of course), but I've made a note for Monday to get all this stuff together and make my envelope marked "emergency".

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(Archived Dec 17, 2009)Emergency Envelope

Tip: Emergency Envelope

I have in my purse a large (#10) envelope, orange, my favorite color. In this envelope, I keep my medical/insurance cards for when I go to the doctor. Also a card that lists all my medications with dosages, allergies (none), family emergency names and phones, doctor's name, hospital choice, a special eye card concerning eye surgery I had, and pharmacy card. My family knows if there is ever an emergency where this orange envelope is and they can tell medical people where to find it if they (the family) aren't there as yet. When my kids were little, I kept info on them, shots, illnesses, doctor info, etc, on cards in my purse too, saved a lot of memory searching if they went to ER, etc.

By Linda from Bloomington

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RE: Emergency Envelope

I always kept my kid's shot records in the diaper bag, and now, with my youngest having epilepsy, I have created the Book. It is a three ring binder with separators and page protectors: one for medication information, last er visit and log (for follow up info), directions and test information for the neurologist and diagnostics, and any other information pertinent. We went to the er twice in three days, and a battery of appointments soon after, so the need for all information in one place was a necessity! We also keep a copy of the MRIs in case we go out of town, or a new doc needs to see him (saves explaining every incident by memory!) Because of the size, we keep it in a backpack with extra toys, diapers, and adult personal items (for Murphy's Law) so it can be taken at a moment's notice. (06/07/2006)

By camo_angels

RE: Emergency Envelope

Great ideas! I recently made myself a little medical "photo album"....My husband, myself and one of our children takes medication so I took the print off-s that come with our CVS receipts (stapled to the bag) and put ea in a pocket of the photo album. It's one of those small size albums, with space for perhaps 12 photos, 4 x 6 size. I also typed up pages with our Dr's names with addresses and phone numbers. Our kids had to go to several Dr's after we adopted them and have different things done and treatments and such. I hate to try and remember all that stuff so if I could compile it all and add that to the album that would sure be a time and memory saver! I do not keep our insurance cards in this album but rather in my wallet. I don't know if I'd ever lose the little photo album but it's always a possibility I could misplace it so feel keeping ins cards in my wallet is safer. (06/07/2006)

By Debbie52

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