Positive Ageing - Dont Forget Your Medication In Emergency

Consider keeping one week's supply of medicines (rotate it regularly) and instructions for their use (dosage, frequency, doctor's name etc) in one container in your refrigerator marked for emergency use.

Try to always maintain at least a 7 to 14 day supply of essential medications. Talk to your doctor about holding a small extra supply of medication, or prescription. Keep your medication, or prescription, with you if you are evacuated.

In an emergency it may be critical to have important information readily available in case of injury, evacuation, or as a result of shock in a traumatic event. Written life-saving information may be vital.

• Create an emergency health information card to tell rescuers what they need to know about you if you are unconscious, incoherent or if you are evacuated.
• Include information about medications, equipment you use, communication, hearing or mobility difficulties, preferred treatment, medical providers and important contact people.
• Make multiple copies of this card to keep in your wallet, give to people in your personal support network, and display on your fridge or noticeboard.
• Include contact details for friends or family.
• A Life Tube serves a similar purpose. The Life Tube is a small security measure, priced at $5 per tube, which can give emergency services immediate access to essential medical information in the event of accident or collapse. Keep your life tube in the fridge with the bright red Life Tube alert sticker on the fridge door.
• Available in Blenheim from Age Concern Marlborough, 25 Alfred Street.