What should go on your family emergency contact list? Prepare before it’s too late

Every home requires a list of emergency contacts in case of unexpected situations like a family member falling ill when you are out on a business trip.

If you have small children in the household, it’s even more important to prepare the list and hang it in a prominent place.

In 2021-22, there were more than 7600 calls to the Emergency Services and Telecommunications Authority (ESTA), Australia.

If you still haven’t prepared your list, then it’s high time you list some important contacts for your loved ones. This article will walk you through the process.

1. Family members

You can’t prepare an emergency contact list without mentioning the basic details of each person in your house.

Put down the full names, birthdays, and mobile numbers of every member, along with their blood groups or any other necessary information, such as their medical history.

Additionally, you should also add the home address and the home telephone number. Finally, remember to add your PIN code so emergency services can locate your house easily. 

2. Next of kin

After you’ve jotted down the personal details of the family members, it’s time to write down the details of the people you consider to be your closest aides.

They can be your relatives, such as a close aunt or cousin, or it could be a neighbor. Many people prefer to put their neighbor’s contact details if there’s an emergency.

However, this list will depend on whom you consider trustworthy. For example, if you feel that a colleague from your workplace will be dependable, you can add their name too.

3. Family physician

Your family doctor’s full name and the names of their assistant and associate nurses are also an important part of your emergency contact list. This is especially important for those of you who may have relatives who are in a care home or nursing facility, just to be on the safe side. It’s always good to include a trusted physician in case of an emergency rather than just the doctors there, as we all know that the rates of nursing home abuse aren’t exactly stellar.

You can also include the page number if the doctor communicates with you through after-hours pagers.

For pet parents, it’s good to put down the contact names and numbers of the vet along with your regular healthcare provider.

You should also write the name and address of the clinic or hospital where they work.

4. Utility workers

Putting down the names of different utility workers and their respective companies comes next. This should include the electrician, such as emergency electrician Melbourne, the plumber, the gas company, and any other relevant details.

Other kinds of workers like gardeners, janitors, cleaners, and housekeeping services are included in this list.

If you are away from home for business or pleasure, but there will be other loved ones at home, you must keep these utility workers’ contacts accessible so if they face any unexpected power and house maintenance issues, they’ll know who to contact!

5. Poison control center

No matter how careful you try to be, grave accidents can happen, leading to the production and inhalation of poisonous fumes or ingestion of toxic materials.

When kids eat Tide pods just to go viral in the current era, you can never be casual about these situations. You can’t waste even a minute scrambling for the poison control center near you in such a situation.

Therefore, you should keep a detailed information section dedicated to the poison control department so they can reach your place within minutes with an ambulance and proper equipment.

To be extra safe, note down the numbers of two or three such places.

6. Work contacts

Imagine a situation where you’re working in your office, and your phone is either switched off or in flight mode.

Now, if a family member needs to reach you urgently but can’t get through to you, it can lead to many problems and miscommunication, especially if the emergency is health-related.

To avoid such complications, you must write down the professional contact details of your organization, the reception area, and your seniors and coworkers, along with the fax numbers.

7. Health insurance

Just as it’s important to include the details of your healthcare provider, it’s also important to mention the basic contact information about your health insurance provider.

You never know when you need to access or renew the insurance benefits.

You’ll want to keep a note of the insurance agent’s phone numbers, the personal health numbers, as well as the insurance numbers of your family. Make sure that everyone’s insurance is updated and accurate.

Over to you…

Your emergency contact list is valuable only if it’s easily accessible. So share it with the people you love and trust, and make sure they all have a copy where the information is written or typed.