Emergencies are bound to happen, and rarely at a good time.
Maybe you get in a car accident or your dog eats something toxic. You are away from home, and away from pertinent medical records for you and your dog. What do you do? You are so flustered you can’t remember the contact information for your primary care doctor or your dog’s vet. Your dog can’t stay in the hospital with you — do you know your dog trainer’s number by heart? Do you know anyone’s number by heart? Can you explain why emergency personnel can’t take your service dog to the pound? So much is going on. Too much is going on. That’s where an emergency portfolio comes in handy.
How to Store the Information
- Soft 3-ring binder
- Small accordion portfolio with note cards
- Address book
- Smart Phone (keep in mind though that this could get smashed in a car crash, so it might be good to have this & a paper version)
Where to Keep It
Making multiple copies can be a good idea, in the event one location isn’t with you or gets damaged.
- Glove box of car
- Dog’s go-bag
- Your go-bag
- Dog’s file at home
- On your phone & on Google Drive or iCloud
Dog’s Information:
- Name, breed, age, identifying markers, type of service dog/what he does
- Vet name, number, address
- Up to date shots with dates given
- Medical problems
- Trainer’s contact information. Talk to your trainer. They may be willing to be temporary guardians of your dog if there is an emergency.
- Second & third guardians for your dog with their contact information
- Basic Commands that Robbie knows in case someone needs to direct him.
- Small legal cards with SD law
- Proof of ownership
- Microchip Information
Information About You
- Your Name
- Your home address
- Medical insurance cards (or info on person who holds your medical insurance, if not you)
- Emergency Contact Person
- Backup emergency contacts people
- Family contact information (even if out of area)
- Primary care doctor, Pain Specialist or Doctor Who Manages Your Condition
- Dentist (random, yes, but it may very well be that your dentist has info they need)
- List of current medications
- List of medications you are allergic to or have severe side effects to
- Description of CRPS or your medical condition
- Advisements on how to handle you, especially if you have CRPS
- Protocol printed out from RSD Hope website on how to handle you in the ER or surgery
- Other conditions you’ve been diagnosed with & how they affect you
For 1-1 coaching navigating life with CRPS, sign up for a coaching session today!
