Alex Shalman . comPractical Personal Development

Every Wednesday is Productivity Day at AlexShalman.com

Last Wednesday I had the ‘opportunity’ to spend the day at the hospital. It wasn’t that bad (I wasn’t the one sick), I grabbed a book on the way over, and provided moral support, so the time was used pretty productively. Everything turned out for the best, but I realized that the whole experience could have been much more pleasant if we had been prepared.

It’s not always possible to predict an emergency, and during a stressful situation things could be forgotten while you’re rushing out the door. The best solution would have been to have a ready to go pack with all the necessities.

For the patient

1. Clean underwear, warm socks, and slippers. You don’t want to get caught off guard, but you do want to be warm, and comfortable. Especially when you have to do a little walking around.
2. List of medications, allergies and symptoms. You don’t want to forget anything important. A medication that can cause contraindications, an allergy that can lead to shock, or a symptom that you have been experiencing.
3. Insurance card copy. This could greatly expedite the initial registration and get you to a doctor.
4. List of emergency contacts. If you can’t communicate with the doctor, for one reason or another, a close friend or a family member might need to be called up.
5. Directions to closest hospitals. You want to get there as quickly as possible, and if you have a specific emergency, a certain hospital might excel in that field.
6. A book. Keep it a simple and relaxing read. Something that will keep you calm and entertain you. Bring your glasses along if you have any.
7. Music and headphones. Again, you’ll want to stay relaxed while you’re there.

For the companion

1. A book. Eventually the patient will fall asleep, and you’ll be glad you brought it.
2. Change. No telling how long you’ll be there, you’ll want to get something from the vending machines. You might also need change for parking, so pack plenty.
3. Snacks. Bring a couple of bottles of water and energy bars.
4. Writing Utensils. You’re going to have plenty of discussion, or plenty of time to think. Either way, capture your ideas and don’t let them go to waste.

If we brought all these things along, I know we would have been really comfortable. Don’t get me wrong, I know that comfort means different things to different people. I also realize that some emergency visits are way too serious to even consider entertainment. In the case that the visit is more routine than you thought, these ideas should serve us well.

If you have any more ideas for things to put in this ready-to-go emergency room pack, let us know in the comment box below.