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If a hurricane,
earthquake, fire or
other disaster
struck right now,
right where you’re
sitting, would you
be ready?
Where is your
spouse, your
children, the other
people you love?
What if they
were injured?
Would a
doctor know what to
do to save their
lives, with their
specific healthcare
needs in mind?
Would the
hospital know to
call you?
What about your
vital documents?
Could YOU
put your hands
on your bank
account number,
your homeowner’s
policy and your
birth
certificate, if
you suddenly had
five minutes to
evacuate?
We didn’t think
so. But unlike
the victims of
Hurricane
Katrina or the
people on the
subway during
the London
Bombings, you
have a chance to
fix that.
In
one afternoon,
with a few painless
steps you can
take care of
business.
Help emergency
personnel help
you.
Fill in
the Missing
Piece.
Background
As recent hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and terrorist attacks
have proven,
anyone can find
himself in the
middle of an
emergency.
During disasters and
terrorist attacks,
one need has come to
the forefront more
than any other --
the need to get
victim's
identification,
medical history and
emergency contact
information as
quickly as possible.
When a
patient is taken
into the emergency
room unconscious,
the doctors caring
for him have
basically no
information about
their patient,
besides obvious
injuries.
They have no
idea what he might
be allergic to, what
medications he’s
taking or the
surgery he had the
month before.
Doctors may
be able to put
together about 75%
of a patient’s
background by
examining him.
But what
about that other
25%?
And many
times that 25% is
the difference
between life and
death.
When it comes
to you and your
family, it’s up to
you to fill in that
missing piece BEFORE
an emergency
strikes.
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•Each
year approximately one million people end up in the emergency
room unconscious or physically unable to make medical decisions
for themselves.
•
•Nearly
200,000 people die each year due to misdiagnosis or medical
error – a direct result of lack of information regarding medical
history and medical conditions
•
•As emergency workers worldwide have found during the
London subway bombings, the Tsunami and 9/11, one of the most
difficult tasks during a major emergency, is quickly locating
injured victims' identities, emergency contact information and
medical/medication history.
•
•Most accidents happen when people are within a few blocks of
home or work, out jogging, or doing a quick errand – exactly
when people feel the most comfortable running out of the house
"for a few moments" without their wallet, purse or ID.
•
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•A
week after 9/11, there were 2,100 unclaimed children in child
care centers all over New York, because day-care workers had no
emergency contact information on who to call in case the parents
didn't arrive to pick them up.
•In
44 states, hospitals have no legal obligation to call your next
of kin or emergency contact even if you arrive at the hospital
unconscious or physically unable to speak for yourself or give
informed consent.
•Countless families nationwide have horror stories of the
anguish they suffered when discovering that their loved ones
were in an accident or critically injured without the hospital,
notifying them for hours, days or even weeks – and many times
not until their loved one had already died.
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If you knew that spending 15 minutes right now could save the
people you love in the event of an emergency, or help you
start your
life over again in case of massive property damage or loss
would you do it? Of
course you would!
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The Next of Kin
Education Project is a Project of NOKR, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization.
Contributions to NOKEP are tax deductible.
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