Now that you have the MedicTag, tell your family and friends about it. It can be very reassuring to know your vital personal emergency information is available if needed.

To get the attention of emergency responders, place brightly colored labels or wallet-sized cards in obvious places such as the following:

In Your Car

1. Behind the vehicle registration card in the glove compartment of a vehicle
2. Next to or on your steering wheel
3. Taped on a car visor
4. Somewhere near the ignition switch

In Your Home

1. On the refrigerator door
2. Taped on inside or outside door of medicine cabinet
3. With important papers
4. In your night stand
5. With health care surrogate paperwork
6. Near your emergency telephone number list
7. On the telephone

In Your Wallet

In your wallet, behind driver’s license

Other Ideas for MedicTag Alert Messages

1. Place label on scooter, wheel chair, walker or other mobility devices
2. On or in your luggage when traveling
3. Near the ignition switch on a boat or other recreational vehicle
4. In or on a backpack
5. In or on a gym bag
6. In or on obvious place on your office desk
7. On your tool box
8. On your computer
9. On your computer laptop

How to Make MedicTag Alert Labels

If you want to make your own labels, we suggest using neon colors. They are real attention getters! If you want to use our form to make your own, choose from the selection below. You can print them out on paper, or use Avery label products.

Small Labels – (1″ x 4″; Avery 5161)

Large Labels – (2″ x 4″; Avery 5163)

How to Make MedicTag Alert
Wallet-Sized Cards

If you want to make your own wallet-sized cards, we suggest using heavy paper, heavy weight cardstock, or Avery business cards for durability.  Below is a ready-made form to print.  Either cut along the lines when printing on paper or cardstock, or use Avery 8376.

Wallet-sized Cards

Miscellaneous Information Ideas

The miscellaneous section on Medic Tag has lots of space to include other information. Here are some ideas:

1. If you wear hearing aids, say whether hearing loss is a little, some or a lot, and be specific about which ear or ears are affected
2. If you have vision loss, say how much and note the eye or eyes affected
3. Pacemaker and model number, date of implant
4. Any medical devices used in or on the body such as metal used for joint replacements or repairs, colostomy, implants, or other medical inserts
5. Other languages spoken such as German, Italian, Spanish, etc., especially if accents make it harder for others to understand
6. Whether an organ donor, if so, any restrictions
7. Recent falls or fractures
8. Normal responses to medications that cause side effects
9. Existence of a living will
10. Existence of a DO NOT RESUCITATE order and the location of the documents
11. Use of mobility devices such as canes, walkers or wheel chairs.  For specialized equipment, add serial numbers, manufacturer names, and other vital descriptions necessary in an emergency.
12. If walking is difficult, include the level of difficulty such as unable to walk without walker or requires a lot of assistance to walk, etc.
13. Include a picture for identification purposes or to prove ownership of pets and other possessions
14. Names and contact information of health care surrogate, attorney, bankers, insurance agents, other family members, friends, caregivers
15. Normal daily life abilities such as totally independent, requires some assistance in daily life, a lot of assistance, or unable without the help of others
16. Family risk factors/medical history such as

• both parents died of bone cancer
• both parents have diabetes
• 3 generations on mother side has rheumatoid arthritis

1. Records of doctor visits
2. Any files that have been digitized can be stored on the MedicTag such as:

• Do Not Resucitate (DNR) orders
• EKG readings
• immunization records
• instructions for implanted devices
• MRI images
• sonograms
• X-ray images

1. Spiritual affiliation instructions
2. Anything of importance that would tell an emergency responder how you functioned in your daily life.
   

Lifestyle Information

Other ideas to include in Miscellaneous Information

If you smoke:

• How many years have you smoked?
• How many packs a day?
• If you are exposed to second hand smoke.
• How long you have been exposed to second hand smoke.

If you quit smoking:

• Indicate date

If you drink alcohol:

• How many years have you drunk alcohol?
• How often do you drink?
• How many drinks do you generally drink?
• If you quit drinking, indicate date.

Do you exercise?

• If so, what type of exercise?
• If so, how often?
• If so, how much exercise?

Consider providing the following information:

“I am independent in all aspects of my daily care” or “I require a lot of assistance to get my basic daily life activities done each day.”

or

“The last time I saw my primary care doctor, (write in the doctor’s name) _______________, was _____________. ”

or

“The last time I had a preventive check up with (write in the doctor’s name) _______________was________________.”

Testing and Health Screening results such as the following:

My BMI (body mass indicator) is ______.

My average cholesterol levels are:

_____ HDL
_____ LDL

My average blood pressure reading: _____

My average triglyceride levels: _____

This family emergency plan document was developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This document could be saved on your MedicTag.

Read “Emergency Information Form for Children With Special Health Care Needs” from the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Read “20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors” by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

If you have other ideas, please email [email protected]