Recently a dear friend of mine found himself in an emergency situation. Fortunately, I happened to be nearby and was able to help him gather his belongings as the paramedics were arriving. The medical professionals were busy securing him to the stretcher as he gave me instructions regarding what to bring. One of the things he asked for was his bin of medications and a printed list of what he was taking. What a revolutionary thought! He had thought ahead enough to place all of the medications he was taking into a Tupperware bin and more importantly he had a laminated list of not only the medications in the bin but exactly how much of them he was taking and when. Eureka! Brilliant!
When a patient is admitted in an emergency situation, knowing what medications they are currently taking can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. For seniors, emergency situations are usually not characterized by clear and rational thinking but are instead frustrating and confusing events. Precious time is lost while emergency rooms try desperately to track down information about what drugs the patient is currently taking so that they can know what drugs they are free to administer. It is difficult to track down reliable statistics regarding drug-drug interaction because so much of the trouble it causes is never pinpointed but the most reliable information I could find estimated that 20% of patients who are taking 5 or more prescriptions suffer from some level of drug-drug interaction. That is a staggering figure! 1 out of every 5! Considering that the average senior is taking well over 5 prescriptions at once this problem really hits home with the clients that we serve. Please take a moment with your loved ones and write down the drugs they are taking. Place the list in an accessible place for them and keep a copy with you for emergencies. For more information about how to prepare for an emergency with your aging loved ones go to www.senioremergencykit.com.
When seconds count, have them work for you rather than against you.
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