Free Diabetic Supplies

Creating and keeping an emergency kit in case of disaster or other type of emergency has become commonplace as there has been more awareness, especially with the media and many of the stores featuring emergency kits and emergency information.  It is suggested that emergency kits contain water, blankets and a few other things in the car and a full emergency kit including canned goods, water, flashlights, battery operated radios and more in the house. 

One thing that is essential with emergency supplies is to have a medical emergency kit available at all times.  We are not talking about a first aid kit.  That goes with all the stuff in the car and in the house in case of a disaster or other kind of emergency, including medical.

The emergency medical kits we are talking about is a container or file that has insurance coverage information including your health insurance company policy number, Medicaid or Medicare policy numbers, a list of your medicine with prescription numbers and dosages, your doctor’s phone number, a copy of your medical history from your doctor (you can usually get a copy for free), and names and contact information for family or friends and your doctor.  On top of all that critical information it is essential that you also put at least a weeks worth of medication in the emergency kit, too.  Just in case, you might want to toss a change of clothes in an overnight bag, as well.

We usually think in terms of other people having the emergencies and we think it probably won’t happen to us.  Even if we have diabetes or high blood pressure, or other conditions which could lead to serious complications, we don’t usually prepare in advance.  Why is that?  For one reason, who wants to think of having an attack of some sort and having to go into the hospital?  None of us.

It is important, and could be life-saving, to have a kit including your paperwork as discussed above.  Often in a rush into the hospital, we are disoriented. Even if we are not in the middle of something as serious as a heart attack, we are, after all, going to the hospital and usually worried, frightened, stressed or all three.

So help yourself and your friends and family in an emergency by preparing all the information – and medication – you might need.  If you haven’t prepared yet, take the time to do it now.  It could save your life.