Why Every Parent Needs a Plan for Medical Emergencies (Even if You Hope to Never Use It)

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Medical emergencies in and around the home can occur even in those families that take every precaution to keep their little ones safe.

As a parent, you’re likely to experience a child’s bloody nose or a broken bone at some point in their lifetime.

Some get into accidents more frequently than others, but when an emergency strikes, it’s good to be proactive.

The overlooked realities of parenting and medical surprises

Some overlooked realities come from parenting that you’ll want to be aware of, especially when it can result in medical emergencies.

From the emotional and physical toll to the psychological trauma that can come in those moments where emergencies occur.

While parental anxiety is common, being prepared is going to be helpful to avoid any mild accidents or emergencies from getting out of hand.

How to build a simple family emergency checklist 

To keep everyone in the loop and informed, should a disaster strike, here’s how to build a simple family emergency checklist.

Keep any important documents nearby and accessible

Documents are something you’ll want to keep accessible and nearby should they be needed in an emergency. Copies of insurance policies, deeds, identification, and medical information are all essentials that you’ll want to be able to locate quickly.

This could be in a folder, kept in the family office, for example. Somewhere that’s easy to locate but away from little hands.

Set dates for regular health checkups 

Not everyone can remember the exact date of their last dental appointment or when they had their prescription checked over for glasses or contact lenses.

Setting dates for regular health checkups is important to do, and definitely something that can make a big difference in getting problems checked out sooner rather than later. 

Develop a disaster plan with emergency contacts

Developing a disaster plan and ensuring your emergency contacts are on your speed dial is crucial. You might want to make sure all your family members know of the safe routes to get out of the house in an emergency, as well as a meeting place.

Showing each member the utilities and how to operate appliances can also be helpful to share, especially if it’s usually one person responsible for it.

For emergency contacts, you’ll want to make sure ambulance services across California are something that you are knowledgeable about, should you need them in an emergency.

Keep an emergency kit nearby and stocked up

It’s good to keep an emergency kit stocked up and nearby so that in the event of needing to quickly stop a grazed leg from bleeding or give pain relief, you can do so quickly. Keeping it stocked up will also help to avoid not having anything you need in that emergency.

Finding peace of mind in being prepared

It’s always good to be prepared when it comes to preparing as a parent for medical emergencies. With that being said, use these tips to provide peace of mind for your little ones - or big ones if they’re grown up!