In an emergency, the useful information is almost always in someone’s head, and that someone may be the person the emergency is happening to. An emergency information sheet fixes that. It is a single, easy-to-reach place with the handful of details a family member, carer or paramedic would need in the first frantic minutes. It takes ten minutes to set up and, on the day it matters, it matters enormously.
What to put on it
Keep it to the essentials someone would need fast:
- Key medical details: any conditions, allergies and regular medication.
- Your NHS number and GP.
- Emergency contacts, with a second name in case the first is unreachable.
- Anyone who depends on you: children, or a relative you care for.
- Any critical practical notes, like where a spare key is or who holds power of attorney.
You are not writing a medical history. You are answering the questions a stranger would ask in a crisis.
Make it reachable
A sheet in a drawer is no help in an ambulance. The value is in being able to reach it quickly, so set it up somewhere accessible. Many phones let you add medical details and emergency contacts to a lock screen, which paramedics know to check. Beyond that, keep a fuller version somewhere your family can get to, so they are not hunting on the worst day.
Do one for the people you look after
If you care for a child, an elderly parent or anyone who could not speak for themselves, an emergency sheet for them is just as important. A carer or relative stepping in should be able to find what they need without you there to tell them.
Keep it current
Details change: a new medication, a new contact, a new dependant. Glance at it a couple of times a year and update it when something shifts. An out-of-date emergency sheet can be worse than none, so a quick check is worth it.
Where FamilySafe fits
This is one of the simplest, most valuable things FamilySafe holds: an emergency information screen, reachable by the right people, kept current alongside the rest of your affairs. So in the moment it is needed, the answer is a tap away.
Download the free emergency information template to set yours up.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I keep it?
Somewhere reachable in a hurry. Use your phone’s medical ID and emergency contacts feature, and keep a fuller version somewhere your family can access.
What is the most important thing to include?
Medical basics, allergies and medication, plus emergency contacts. Those are what a paramedic or relative needs first.
Should I make one for my children or parents?
Yes. Anyone who could not speak for themselves in an emergency should have a sheet a carer or relative could find and use.
