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19 Tips of what goes into my Caregivers’ Go Bag for Emergencies!!
Everyone needs these free insights! Just shared with friends again!
I highly recommend priming 2 GO BAGS for hospital emergencies: Check the FULL list of hacks and tips in the article
A) Ensure your Loved ones’ Go-bag for hospital is regularly checked,
B) The Caregiver’s Go Bag—it contains more, a camping-in-the-ER necessity! If you have other ideas you’d add, let me know. Average time for Review & Treat in Accident and Emergency, pre-admission. 6-8hours, most were 14 hours.
My Go Bag for ambulance trips:
Essential patient reference documents:
List medications (dose and frequency of administration), including allergies to medication and others e.g. latex (dressings/plasters).5 copies
Medical history summary- highest priority conditions, recent investigations, incl. CT, PET, MRI, endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy, and blood tests (haemoglobin, blood clotting factors, cancer markers). Five copies. Be prepared to make clear statements of this to medics.
Name of primary care physician/GP and surgery practice
Legal documents and health directives: Power of Attorney (PoA), Living Will, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) if applicable. Emergency Health Care Plan (EHCP). Any important intervention alert e.g. specific issues with intubation, anaesthesia (thanks to Daniel Gmyrek - this and more info incl in the article)
Small notebook and pen, to write down everything plus the names of EVERY person, doctor, nurse, health care assistant, each paramedic. Names and titles in a book and using them in conversation are essential.
YOUR PHONE! The simplest most important thing
making sure your phone is set up that emergency contacts and medical information is accessible in case of incapacitation, like in an accident or something.
Especially with blood type in case of needing a blood transfusion. I have O negative RH negative blood type and can only receive that type. O positive or any other can be harmful, for example.
‘Record the conversation’ - your Phone is a great way to record conversations, take pictures.
Powerpack (details in article), power cord and plug
I don’t take headphones or ear pieces for my phone because I need to overhear everything people are saying, AND listen out for symptoms changing.
Protein bar and individually wrapped biscuits. To avoid hypoglycaemia, I carry these in any bag we take to appointments.
A bottle of water with a plastic straw, for your loved one, because no one can drink from a bottle lying down, and a paper straw dissolves fast. Sips of water for me
Tissues, wet wipes, small towel/flannel.
Depending on your family member's needs: incontinence pad x 2, underwear, wet wipes.
Plastic trash bags for dirty clothes/waste
Cotton washable scarf that can double as a shawl/blanket/pillow
Face mask and hand sanitiser.
Cash for a taxi. Twice, I needed to ride in the ambulance and needed a taxi to get home around midnight. Have a local taxi company number ready.
A box of aspirin and paracetamol. This may seem odd if you’re going to a hospital, but twice I’ve had a headache/symptoms, and it was hard enough getting attention for my parents, so now I take medication for myself
Hair ties/grips = hold things together = can bunch up clothes out of the way. e.g. when they’re using a commode or being sick.
Glasses and glasses case, artificial tears for dry eyes,
Lip balm, and chewing gum.
A book you’ve read, a puzzle book like Sudoku - something easy/familiar to pass the time but that isn’t too distracting. (Thanks Gregory Zobel)
Siobhan Calthrop The Caregiver’s Compass Julia Yarbough Denise Brown Dr Rachel Molloy Mary Braun Bates, MD Daniel Flora, MD Sammie Marsalli The Caregiver Tessa Shahid
