ER Go-Sheet

Fill this out once, while things are calm. Print a few copies and keep them where you'd grab them fast — on the fridge, in the car, in a bag by the door. When an emergency happens, hand it to the paramedics or ER staff so they know who your person is and what matters — without you having to remember it all under pressure.

Nothing you type is saved. It lives on this page only and disappears when you close it — the printed paper is your copy. Update it and reprint whenever something changes.

Fill in what you can

Only the name is required. Fill the rest as best you can — you can always reprint after you add more.

Your person's full name

Date of birth

What they prefer to be called

Main diagnoses or conditions

e.g. dementia, diabetes, heart condition — list what an ER would need to know first.

Major past surgeries or implants (optional)

Allergies and bad reactions

Medications, foods, latex — and what the reaction is, if you know.

No known allergies

Medications they take

Name and dose if you have it. A photo of the bottles works too if you'd rather bring those. Include anything over-the-counter or supplements that matter.

What's normal for your person?

This helps staff tell a real change from their everyday baseline. For example: "Doesn't speak much but is usually calm," "Always confused about where she is — that's her normal," "Walks with a walker," "Can't tell you his medical history himself."

What helps when they're scared or agitated?

A strange, loud ER is frightening. What calms them? What makes it worse? For example: "Hold her hand and speak slowly," "Don't restrain him — it makes it worse," "She's hard of hearing on the left."

Who should be called?

Name, relationship, phone — list the main person and a backup.

Is there a healthcare proxy or POA, and who? (optional)

Anything else staff should know up front?

For example: "An advance directive / DNR exists — kept in the blue folder / with [name]," where insurance or Medicare info is, a regular doctor's name and number.

Full sheet · for the fridge / go-bag

Emergency Information

Allergies

Diagnoses & conditions

Past surgeries / implants

Current medications

What's normal for them

What helps when scared or agitated

Emergency contacts

Healthcare proxy / POA

Important documents & wishes

This sheet shares information the family wants the care team to have. It isn't medical advice and doesn't assess urgency — it's here to help staff understand the patient quickly.

Wallet card · actual size

Emergency Card

Prints at credit-card size (3⅜ × 2⅛ in). Cut out both faces, place them back-to-back, and laminate them if you can — it'll hold up in a wallet or glovebox.

Front

Allergies

Call

Emergency info — full details on the printed sheet

Back

Diagnoses

Meds

Normal for them