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| The hallway where it all began... |
I (stubbornly) proceeded on with my day, thinking about how fortunate I am that I
work in an ambulance station located right behind a hospital. But at the end of
the day, I go home. What should I do,
in the case of an emergency…when there is no one else around?
The
incident turned on a light bulb, lighting the way to write this blog series, 911
& The Single Life. I have the honor and privilege of interviewing a few
of our EMTs and Paramedics for this series, and they’ve been more than gracious
in spending a few moments here and there in their busy lives and between calls
to answer my questions.
Always Be Prepared for an Emergency.
No one
schedules a 911 ambulance ride. I look back at the times I’ve been through
traumatic events in my life, thinking: “I
had no idea the day would end up like this when I woke up this morning.” Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and such
wake-up calls are very real.
One of our
EMTs said: “The more I know about you
when you’re conscious helps me know more about you when you’re unconscious.” There
are things you can do to prepare.
The “411 for the
911”: Create and Post an Emergency Information List
There are
several examples and templates available online that you can use as a guide,
but listed below is the information that First Responders need:
Full Name
Address
Phone number
Emergency Contacts - Names and phone numbers
of next of kin, family, friends, neighbors.
Medical Conditions - List ALL of your
medical conditions (Diabetic, hypertension, back pain, anxiety, etc.)
Allergies – List ALL allergies (food,
medications, latex, pollens, mold, anaphylaxis, etc.)
DNR/DNI Order (Do not Resuscitate/Do
Not Intubate). Power of Attorney documentation. Must be notarized.
Other items: Copy of insurance card, name of your Primary Care Physician
Keep this
information posted on your refrigerator, where it is visible!
Ask me to e-mail you a printable PDF of AMR Fremont County’s
“411 for the 911” Information Sheet. You can email me at carol@coffeepong.com
If you have a Guardian Flight Membership, display the sticker in a visible, prominent area...on your fridge, somewhere visible in or on your vehicle, keep your card in your wallet.
Emergency information on your smartphone:
Another
way for First Responders to know about your medical and emergency information
is to add it to the lock screen on your smartphone. It’s very easy to do:
Go to your
phone’s Settings
Go to “About
Phone”
Scroll
until you see “Emergency information”, and then enter your info.
(On my smartphone,
I can enter blood type, allergies, medications, my home address, if I’m an
organ donor, and then I added my emergency contact phone numbers.)
The
“Emergency” function on your lock screen can now be accessed by First Responders.
If you
need help doing this, contact your phone service and they can walk you through
the steps.
Keep all of these lists and information
current! Update whenever there is a change of information, documentation,
medications and medical history.
Make
Your Physical Address Visible and Accessible!
Our
EMTs are pretty well-oriented with the streets, roads and areas of Fremont
County. But if you live in the “wide open spaces”, it can be a challenge,
especially at night. EMS stands for “Emergency Medical Services” and response
time is critical…not just for you, but for our First Responders as well. There’s a lot
you can do to help them help you:
Mark your properties
from the main roads with reflectors, describable landmark-type structures, signs, clear address numbers on mailboxes. Reflectors on fences and gates are helpful.
Know
the specific names of the crossroads and intersections near your home. Specific, unique
landmarks are also helpful to describe to dispatch.
Make sure gates are open for the
ambulances to enter. If you live in a gated complex that has coded access, make
sure that 911 dispatch is aware of this.
Make Sure YOU are Accessible!
There
have been situations where our First Responders have had to struggle to gain
access to not just the property or the front door, but once inside, they need
to be able to access you…and they’re looking around at everything
that may help them help (and find) you.
Hearing
some of their stories – from stacked milk crates used as front door steps…to
hoarding situations where they can barely even get the front door or bedroom
doors open...to aggressive, anxious and confused pets – there are many things
that can hinder them in getting to you in a timely manner. So…
Keep your driveways,
pathways and sidewalks clear. Remove any obstructions…kids’ toys, pet
toys, bikes, etc.
Clean, clear and maintain your home. Keep the “main arteries” (foyers and front rooms,
living rooms, hallways) cleared of any obstructions. Keep all entrances
to the bedrooms clear. There are situations where our EMTs may need to bring in a cot
or a transport chair, and having to wade through a bunch of “stuff” only takes
away from the time they could be saving your life.
Medical
Equipment:
Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, commode safety rails, etc. Use them! Also know that your medical
equipment tells our EMTs that you have a medical condition that requires the
use of them…which can help them as they’re assessing the scene and providing the
care you need.
I’m
probably the most extroverted introvert I know! There are times I love to get
out and about and get together with friends and family, but...I also value my
alone time. Most would think I’m just fine, but the morning that I fell…what if
it was more serious than just a faceplant in the hallway? What if I had hit my
head on the corner of a table or desk? What if I had slipped in the bathtub or exiting
from a shower? What if a large object had fallen on me? What if I had
broken my leg or injured my back or neck, and became immobile?
Have
a friends and family check in on you routinely. My daughter and I
keep in contact with each other often, and she visits me frequently. I have a
lot of friends who check in with me online, and if they haven’t heard from me
in a while, my phone will start blowing up. I don’t consider it annoying; I
consider it caring. Get to know your neighbors. If you're a member of a church or social group, have the pastor or a committee member check in on you from time to time.
Keep
your phone with you.
Even in the bathroom. Have a specific place you set it in each room of your house, so you
know where it is at all times. If you have a landline, know where the phone(s)
are and keep them clear of any obstructions. Most of all...keep your phone charged!
Take
your prescribed medications. Your physician gave them to you for a
reason. If you have diabetes or allergies, know where your kit is. If you take sleep aids,
take only the prescribed amount. Consult with your physician(s) if you feel any type of change that might concern you.
Life
Alert/Lifeline.
I know we joke around about the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
commercials. Sure, it’s all fun and games…until it happens to you. I’m told by our
medics that there are folks, young and old, who have life alerts for
their medical conditions. There is absolutely no shame in having one. Yes, once
in a while they might get a “false alarm”, but it’s our First Responders' jobs to
respond, no matter what. One of our medics said they learn something with every
call. Every call, including the false alarms and cancelled calls.
My
fall wasn’t serious…and it was my own fault. There were several factors that
led up to the incident: I was rushing around and was wearing sweat pants that
were too big and had to keep pulling them up (hey, the good news is that I’ve lost
weight; the bad news is obvious). Prevention measures? If I had kept better track of time…walked
instead of rushing to the bedroom to get ready for work…wore better-fitting clothes, like sweat
pants that didn’t slip down off my butt…I wouldn’t have fallen.
(“Fall Prevention”
will be the next subject in this series.)
More information and resources:
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