If your child is ever ill or injured and requires emergency care, doctors, nurses, and paramedics will have many questions about his or her medical history. And even if you know all the answers in a calm moment, the most organized parent might not be able to remember the details of a child's health history in a stressful situation.

 

That's why it's important to keep a comprehensive record of your child's health information nearby. In many cases, this information can help a medical professional make quicker diagnoses and decisions during an emergency, when each second counts.

 

Read the categories below to learn more, and create a complete health record for your child. Keep one copy of the record in an accessible place at home (such as on the refrigerator), one in each car, one at each parent's workplace, and one in each parent's bag or wallet. You should also supply your child's day care center and babysitters with this list, along with the name and number of your child's doctor.

Allergies
Record on your list any known allergies your child has to medications, both prescription and nonprescription. Allergic reactions to insect stings and bites and food allergies are also important to list. In addition, children who have been hospitalized in the past may have developed latex allergies. In many cases, allergy information helps medical personnel discover a cause for problems like seizures or difficulty breathing.

Medications
Certain medications can't be taken together, so paramedics need to know all medications (prescription and nonprescription) your child currently takes before they can administer any drug. In addition, you need to know the doses, the dosing schedules, and when the medications were taken last. You'll need to know when the child took the medication last, and how much was taken.

Pre-existing Illnesses or Conditions
Pre-existing illnesses or conditions can have a great impact on the kinds of tests or treatments administered during an emergency. If your child has any health problem - from diabetes to epilepsy to asthma - emergency medical personnel must know. For additional protection, children with chronic conditions should wear an identifying tag on a necklace or bracelet. This kind of immediate notification can help doctors save your child's life.

 

If your child has special needs, you and your child's doctor can fill out a form created by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The Emergency Information Form for Children With Special Needs can be found at either aap.org or acep.org and can be updated as needed. As with any other health record you create for your child, the form should be kept in an easily accessed place at home, in parents' vehicles, in parents' purses or wallets, at parents' workplaces, and with your child's belongings when traveling. The form should also be on file with your child's doctor, school nurse, and child-care center. It can also be filed in a repository (or database) that can be accessed by medical professionals in the event of an emergency.

Hospitalizations and Operations
List the dates your child has been hospitalized and the types of operations he or she has undergone. This information may help during the course of treatment following an emergency situation.

 

Immunizations
Keeping an updated record of all your child's immunizations is important. If you need help remembering or compiling all the information, the staff at your child's doctor's office can assist you. Be sure to include information about any reactions your child may have had following an immunization, such as seizures, high fever, or severe discomfort.

 

Height and Weight
When calculating medication doses, it can be helpful for doctors to know the approximate height and weight of the child. (But you'll need to change this information periodically, since children often grow frequently.)

 

It's relatively easy to compile a written medical history for your child. And it could mean saving critical minutes - when they count most!

 

Updated and reviewed by: Kate Cronan, MD

Date reviewed: May 2004
Originally reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD