Health Upp If there’s one thing about medical emergencies, you don’t know when they will happen to you. And with more than 9 million emergency department presentations over the last two years, you know that the risk is definitely high.
But while you can’t know the inevitable, you can always prepare for it. Here are some tips that will help you prepare for medical emergencies if they happen to you:
Create an emergency plan.
Medical emergencies can be accidents, injuries, and health issues. And when they happen, panic will most likely be your first response. To make sure that you can still make the right decisions during these situations, it’s best to create an emergency plan beforehand. Picture out some scenarios and write down the steps that you would do if you ever got into them. You should also share this emergency plan with your family so they know how to deal with these situations properly.
Know all your emergency numbers.
Good thing in Australia, you only need to remember 000 to call if you need an ambulance, police, or fire rescue. But you should only dial this number for real emergencies that need urgent response. However, you can also call 131 44 for non-urgent police assistance, 132 500 for State Emergency Service (SES), 13 11 14 for Lifeline, 1800 55 1800 for Kids Helpline, 13 74 25 for National Home Doctor, and 13 11 26 for Poisons Centre. Make sure that these numbers are visible at home together with the information of your emergency contact. Of course, it would also help to find the right doctors for each member of your family. For instance, you should have a paediatrician on call for your kids and a general practitioner for you.
Put together an emergency kit.
Having an emergency kit at home and in your car can save someone’s life. This should include a first aid kit stocked with supplies to dress wounds and take care of burns. It should also contain common medications for allergies, pain, fever, and other illnesses. You can also customise this emergency kit for family members who have chronic health conditions and special needs.
Of course, nothing beats having a private health cover to help you deal with the expenses that come with these emergencies. When you have insurance, you can focus on the solutions for these emergencies and have the confidence to take yourself or a loved one to the best healthcare institution in your area, knowing that you have the money to cover the expenses.
At the end of the day, preparing for medical emergencies will make a huge difference in how you come out of these situations. Whether it’s having insurance or creating an emergency plan, these simple steps will surely help you deal with the stress that comes with emergencies. So if you still haven’t invested in your private health cover, get in touch with our team so we can discuss your options with you!