Emergencies can happen at any time. People with bleeding disorders probably know this more than most people. It is important that you are ready for an emergency—whether it's an injury or a hurricane—when it happens. Below are ways to help you and your family prepare.
This section of Step Up covers:
Emergency Preparedness for College or University Students
What’s the Plan?
Emergency preparedness plans if you have a bleeding or blood disorder are important to ensure your safety and wellbeing during an emergency or disaster. Here are some things to address in your emergency plan:
Choose one meeting spot where you and any family, friends, or other loved ones will meet in case you are separated from one another.
Choose an out-of-town family member or friend who you will contact if your phone is not working. Add the number to your phone and memorize it.
Put your emergency contact number into your phone under ICE (In Case of Emergency) so emergency responders know who to contact if you can’t tell them.
- Share your emergency plan with your Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) or health care team.
- Think about what to do in case of emergency at work or school.
- Update your emergency plan yearly.
What’s in Your Go-Bag?
A go-bag is filled with important supplies you will need in case of an emergency. Check the bag from time to time to see if any of the items have expired and need to be replaced.
Here are some recommended items for your go-bag:
- Important telephone numbers
- Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) or other health care provider
- Home care company
- Insurance provider
- Emergency room
- Out-of-town family member or friend
- Important medical information
- Your diagnosis
- Your bleeding disorder medication name, company, and instructions
- Your treatment plan
- Your bleeding disorder medication
- If you infuse, stock an infusion kit with syringes, needles, gauze, alcohol wipes, tourniquets, and bandages.
- Additional medicine you take.
- Ice pack and a way to store bleeding disorder medication correctly.
- Your treatment log
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Whistle
- Water and non-perishable food
- Dust mask
- Cell phones and chargers
Tips for Being Prepared
Whether you are planning for a major disaster or the unexpected happens, planning for an emergency is important. Below are some additional tips to make sure you are prepared.
- Wear a medical alert ID bracelet or necklace.
- Keep multiple ice packs in the freezer.
- Keep extra cash in a safe place you will remember. You may not have time to use an ATM in an emergency. Keep as much treatment and supplies ready as your health insurance will allow (at least a 2-week supply).
- Take treatment and supplies with you when you leave home.
- Keep important phone numbers (like the Hemophilia Treatment Center [HTC], home care company, health care provider’s office, health insurance company, local ER, etc.) in multiple locations, like on the fridge, in your wallet, in school or work bags, in your go-bag, and with your car registration papers.
- Teach family and friends how to give your treatment in case you are unable to do it yourself.
- Keep a notebook of important medical information, directions on how to give your medication, maps of your area showing the location of your HTC/hospital, important phone numbers, diagnosis and treatment information, and location of a backup location to receive care.
- Keep a treatment log and take it with you in case you must evacuate your area.
- Rotate supplies regularly according to expiration dates.
- Add 1-800-42-HANDI (1-800-424-2634) and your HTC number into your home and cell phones in case you need information on available HTCs in other areas.
- Contact your local emergency management office or public health department for information on shelter-in-place and other safety procedures for your area.
For more information about emergency planning please go to Ready.gov or CDC Preparedness and Planning.
For more information about what to bring to the emergency room, please go to Emergency Room Visits.
For more information about recommendations regarding home factor supply for emergency preparedness, please go to MASAC Document 227.
Wearing a Medical Alert ID
Wearing a medical alert ID could save your life in an emergency. After a car accident or other serious injury, emergency responders need to know if an unconscious or noncommunicative person has a bleeding disorder. To ensure life-saving time is not wasted, make sure your medical information is easy to find by wearing a medical alert ID. Be certain the ID is easy to see and identified as a medical alert ID You don’t want emergency responders to mistake your medical ID for a piece of jewelry and overlook the important information.
You may have heard that some people with serious medical conditions tattoo their health information on the body. Medical tattoos may not be effective and are not recommended. For more information on tattoos and piercings, go to Body Art.
Emergency Preparedness for College or University Students
If you are a student living on a campus, you have a support network that can help you in case of an emergency. Think about who you should tell about your bleeding disorder. It can be your roommate, others in your student housing, your close friends, or the staff at the student health center. You also may want to prepare an emergency kit and let people know how to access it if you can’t.