In preparing for emergencies, we’re using technology to our advantage

Before my husband, Donnie, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in 2022, I hadn’t thought much about the importance of keeping good medical records in the event of an emergency. We were both generally healthy and didn’t take many (if any) daily prescriptions. Today, that looks much different, and we recently had an experience that reminded us how important it is to be prepared for life’s curveballs.

Almost two weeks ago, my husband and I were in a car accident. Thankfully, we are both OK, aside from a few injuries. Donnie was bruised but fine. My shoulder was strained, and my arm got pretty scraped up from the impact of the airbags. While we don’t remember it, we’ve concluded we must have knocked our heads together, which resulted in some initial dizziness and confusion in the immediate aftermath.

Over the past several days, we’ve reflected on how fortunate we were to sustain only minor injuries, and on what we can do in the future to be better prepared for an emergency. Here are some actions we have taken since our accident.

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Our emergency preparedness plan

First off, we have decided to use technology to our advantage. My husband and I both use Apple iPhones and Apple Watches. During our accident, my Apple Watch detected that we had been in a crash. It began buzzing and counting down to call emergency services. My husband was able to make the call, but if he hadn’t been capable, my watch was ready to step in to place a call for help. Several iPhone and Apple Watch models have the crash detection feature. You can check whether your iPhone or Apple Watch is compatible on Apple’s website.

Second, after the emergency medical technicians arrived on the scene, they began to evaluate our injuries. Since I was experiencing dizziness, confusion, and vision disturbances, they asked me a few questions to check my cognitive function. I was able to answer all of the questions correctly, but when they asked me if I was on any prescription medications, I wasn’t able to remember the name of my medication. This surprised me, as I’ve been taking the same drug for years, but the blow to my head rendered me confused and unable to remember.

Once the dust settled and we discussed how the situation unfolded, Donnie and I both realized it would be in our best interest to update our medical information on our phones so it would be immediately available to first responders in the event of an emergency. We entered information on our phones about our current medications, allergies, emergency contacts, health conditions (such as Donnie’s PF and need for supplemental oxygen), and more.

We both listed our primary care physicians, as well as any relevant specialists (Donnie listed his pulmonologists, rheumatologist, and cardiologist). We were also able to add in personal details that might be helpful, such as height, weight, and blood type. In Donnie’s case, it’s particularly important that medical professionals are aware of his lung disease and that he requires a special type of blood in the event of a blood transfusion.

After we finished setting up our medical IDs, we also assisted our children and parents in filling them out. We realized that while we all have a general understanding of our family’s health needs, we need to be able to access accurate information quickly. Additionally, it will make it easier to review medication lists during our doctor appointments.

If you do not own a smartphone but would like a visible medical alert ID, several brands are available for purchase. You can find these bracelets on Amazon and at other retailers. You can even buy medical alert watch bands for your smartwatch, as we did for our young daughter with type 1 diabetes.

Our next step is to finally fill out our wills and advance directives, which will be filed at our home, with our parents, and with our primary care provider. While starting our emergency preparedness plan took some time and effort, I feel much better knowing that first responders can provide us with the best possible care, using the most accurate information available in the event of another emergency.

Note: Pulmonary Fibrosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Pulmonary Fibrosis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to pulmonary fibrosis.