When someone in your family needs emergency care, the first minutes are full of the same questions: What medicines do they take? Any allergies? Who is their doctor? Who can we call? If the person who knows the answers isn't there, or the patient and the care team don't share a language, those minutes get harder. A one-page emergency health summary solves that.
What to include
- Full name, date of birth and preferred language (for example, "Prefers Spanish / Prefiere español"). This tells staff to bring a qualified interpreter.
- Allergies and the reaction (for example, "Penicillin: hives"). Write "No known allergies" if there are none, so nobody has to guess.
- Current medicines, with dose and how often. Include inhalers, insulin, blood thinners, eye drops and supplements.
- Medical conditions and past surgeries, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma or a pacemaker.
- Emergency contacts: at least two people, with the language each one speaks.
- Doctor, pharmacy and insurance: names and phone numbers.
- Advance directive or care wishes, and where the paperwork is kept.
Where to keep it
Keep one copy on the refrigerator, one in a wallet or purse, and a photo on your phone. Update it every time a medicine changes, and look it over at least once a year, for example on a birthday.
Why both languages matter
In many families the person who needs care is most comfortable in Spanish, while the adult children, school nurse or paramedic read English. A summary written with every label in both languages means anyone can fill it in and anyone can read it.
Free template
Our free Emergency Health Kit includes a fillable bilingual Emergency Health Summary, an ER-vs-urgent-care guide with the BE FAST / RÁPIDO stroke signs, and interpreter request wallet cards. If you want the whole picture (medicines, appointments, trackers and insurance), see the Bilingual Family Health Binder.
En español
Un resumen de salud de emergencia es una sola página con lo que el personal de emergencias necesita saber: nombre, fecha de nacimiento, idioma preferido, alergias, medicinas, enfermedades, contactos de emergencia, médico, farmacia y seguro. Guarde una copia en el refrigerador, otra en la cartera y una foto en su teléfono, y actualícela cada vez que cambie una medicina. Puede descargar gratis nuestro Kit de Salud de Emergencia en inglés y español.
This article is general education, not medical advice. Follow your own clinician's instructions. In an emergency, call 911. / Este artículo es información general, no consejo médico. En una emergencia, llame al 911.