Emergency situations occur everyday, in every city, in every family. And, emergencies are just that, emergencies. Once as emergency occurs, there may be little or no time to collect the important paperwork and facts necessary.

Emergencies situations include: car accident and/or accidental injury, heart attack or other sudden medical situations, some in which the families medical history surfaces, kid-napping, lost child, drug overdose, allergic reaction, fire, theft, and many other situations too numerous to name.

To allow yourself some control in an emergency situation, each person in the household should have the following information at his or her fingertips. This information should be organized, easily accessible, and complete to the best of your ability.

Whatever makes you an individual should be included. Start with your name, sex, date of birth, social security number, current address and telephone number, spouse’s name, email address–if appropriate--and phone number of an emergency contact. If you require medication, indicate which medication, where the medication is to be found, how often the medication needs to be administered, and the correct dosage. Include any additional instruction the physician has prescribed. (Many people have allergic reactions to medications. Be safe, not sorry.)

If there is a medical history of cancer or diabetes or other disease in the family, jot the information down and explain in detail. Who had the disease? What was the doctor’s name? Where did the treatment take place? Was this disease fatal?

Also include the name and phone number of your physician and/or specialty doctors, attorney, insurance agent, dentist, chiropractor or other doctor, and veterinarian.

Certificates or copies of documents such as birth records, operations, diplomas, and licenses should all be inclusive. Add a family picture to the folder for identification’s sake.

If you have children, each child should have his or her own folder of information, and an annual photo should be included. Also include the child’s name, sex, social security number, date of birth, and any medications the child may be taking, as well as the dosage and time interval between each dosage, and additional information from the physician. List any allergic reactions the child may have had in the past and the symptoms. Include the babysitter’s phone number as well as the phone numbers of two or three of the child’s best friends.

Since this information is private, it’s okay to include the child’s email address as well as password, as well as your own email address and password. If an emergency situation arises where you are unconscious and friends and family need to be notified, email addresses are as necessary as an address book with a list of family addresses and phone numbers, which also should be included.

Children of divorced families should have contact numbers and addresses for both the mother and the father unless one or both parties are no longer in the child’s life. If only one parent is involved, the information from that parents should be included. If both parents are out of the picture, information from the child’s guardian should be included.

If the child attends a daycare, pre- or nursery school, the responsible parent should have the proper information registered with the school. For instance, who is allowed to pick the child up in the parent’s absence? Make it clear who is and who is not allowed to take the child. Include a photograph of each person who has been identified as someone who may or may not pick up or drop off the child from time to time. Instant clarification for daycare workers is the best method–especially if the child is too young to speak. Allergic reactions to foods often occur in children, if your child has had an allergic reaction to anything, add that information as well as a complete list of relatives you have had allergic reactions. (Allergies tend to run in families.)

Immunization records should be completed and included, as well as information on which childhood diseases have occurred, and, if possible, at what age.

Information regarding pets also should be supplied. Please list the pet’s name, sex, date of birth–if known--current address, and telephone number where you can be reached, as well as records of rabies and distemper shots, and the medical history of the animal. Also provide the veterinarian office’s hours and home phone. List which kennel you prefer or who will be responsible for the pet in your absence.

Blood type should be included. In the event of a car accident, does anyone want the victim in need of a blood transfusion, to wait to find out the victim’s blood type? Seconds may be crucial, don’t waste them on unnecessary testing. List all allergies, symptoms, and what medication is used to treat each individual allergy.

The place of employment is a good thing to add to the list. In the case of a missing person, police will need all the information available. If you have listed the place of employment, phone and fax numbers, address and email address, as well as several close contacts–boss and co-woker–it cuts down on valuable time lost in searching.

Car make and model, insurance–health, vehicle, home, and life–and mortgage lender need to be listed. If they’re important to you, they’ll be important to the person who may have to pick up the pieces in case you’re out of commission for a while. Since some health insurance companies dictate that the card-holder must phone the company prior to receiving care, include that phone number, as well.

List the bank, credit union, or lending agency you deal with, but don’t get specific with your account number and other financial information. If someone other than yourself needs to handle financial affairs for you, your attorney can obtain additional personal information. If someone may end up being responsible for your bills while you’re laid up, it wouldn’t hurt to prepare a list of bills, their estimated arrival and the method you prefer for handling the paying of said bills. Example: some car insurance companies allow you to cut your payment in half and pay half now, the rest later. If that’s your policy because money is tight, make sure that’s stipulated or you may find your cash flow has come to a standstill. When does the mortgage statement come, the beginning of the month, the end...the middle? Be organized.

Direction as to where your Last Will and Testament can be found, also is a must. If you’ve taken the time to have a Will written out, you’ll want it accessible. Also, if you want to be an organ donor, have that information included in your Will.

These important papers–necessary in any emergency situation--should be kept in an easily accessible place in your home, and each member of the household should have his or her own folder and know where the information is kept. Remember, knowledge is the key to everything; if the information is kept secret, you and/or your loved ones will flounder in an emergency situation. If the information is at your fingertips, not only will you feel more prepared to handle the emergency, but you or the person answering for you, will be able to make informed, decisions, not hurried guesses.

Finally, it is understood that this information is not readily available to the public, it is your private information and is kept in a safe place in your home. Since it is very personal, you don’t want everyone to have access to it, be careful who knows where you keep your important papers.