There are some simple ways that you can prepare your family for an emergency that requires EMS. Some simple preparation on your part can streamline our ability to provide effective care during an emergency.

Stay on the line with E911 dispatcher until they instruct you to hang up.

The 911 dispatchers are highly skilled, well-trained professionals that are able to ask directed questions to assure the proper resources are dispatched. Additionally, they may be able to provide you with specific instructions that will enable you to care for the patient prior to our arrival.

Assure that your house number is prominently displayed, is clearly visible from a distance, in the dark, and from any direction of travel! 

• If a family member or neighbor is available to help, have them wait at the street to guide us to your residence.
• At night, illuminate your house. If possible, turn on inside lights, and porch light.

The quicker we can reach the patient, the quicker we can initiate care.

Document the medical history for each member of your family:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Prior Medical History - Medical Diagnosis, Surgeries, Conditions
• Current Medications - All prescription medications and the conditions they treat.
• Allergies to Medications
• Home Address & Home Phone
• Emergency Contacts
• Primary Care Physician and/or any specialists
  

If at all possible, print/type the above information. Storing this information on a properly secured personal computer enables you to update the information quickly, when information changes, and easily print a updated version. (Your pharmacy may be able to provide some, if not all of the critical information if you use their online services.)

If the information is handwritten, make sure it is printed legibly.

Store the information in location known to the whole family. (Envelopes taped to the refrigerator, etc.)

Consider that the EMS crew may need to move the patient from any room in your house.

• Consider any furniture that blocks easy litter access.
• Avoid furniture on landings of stairs and hallways.
• Assure that there is easy access to your home, clear sidewalk, trimmed hedges/trees, etc.
• Consider how you will secure any pets to assure they do not interfere with care, nor escape.

Consider your hospital preference in advance:

If you are in a stable condition, you may request transport to any of the Lehigh Valley Hospitals. (The EMS crew will consider your condition and advise you as to whether or not necessity overrides preference.) We strongly urge you to consider Lehigh Valley - Muhlenburg and St Lukes - Bethlehem. We prefer these hospitals simply because their proximity allows us to transport you to the highest level of care quickly, and allows us to return our EMS units to service promptly.

Consider any special requirements: St Lukes - Bethlehem is the closest hospital with pediatric and OBGYN specialties.

Discuss your choice with your doctor and/or pediatrician. In some cases, they may have admitting privileges with a specific hospital network, or may advise you based on your specific circumstances or conditions.

Be prepared to evacuate

Store your medications in a single location, and prepare for the possibility that you may need to take them with you in the event of an evacuation.

None of us can anticipate the circumstances that would require us to leave our homes quickly. But we can prepare for the possibility. Store your individual medications in a single container, or store a container near your medications that can be used to carry your medications in the event of an emergency evacuation.