An Emergency Information Sheet for an Older Family Member

An emergency information sheet is a single page that helps whoever is first on the scene, whether a neighbour, a relative, a helper or a paramedic, act quickly: who to call, which hospital is preferred, and a few things worth knowing about the person. It takes about 20 minutes to fill in.

Use our free emergency information sheet. Fill it in on screen and print it, or print it blank and write by hand. Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.

Emergency numbers in India

• 112 is India's national emergency number. The Ministry of Home Affairs' Emergency Response Support System↗ (opens in a new tab) connects 112 to police, fire and health services through state emergency response centres.
• 14567 is Elderline, the national helpline↗ (opens in a new tab) for senior citizens. It offers information, guidance and support, but it is not an emergency ambulance line.

Some states also run their own ambulance number. Check which number is used where your relative lives and write it on the sheet.

What to include

The template has five short sections:

1. About the person. Name, preferred name, languages spoken, and the home address with a landmark. Landmarks matter in many Indian neighbourhoods where addresses alone can be hard to find.
2. Who to call. Two family contacts with their relationship, and a neighbour or someone nearby.
3. Health contacts. Usual doctor or clinic, preferred hospital, and the health insurance provider's name and helpline.
4. Key care information. Known allergies; where the current medication list is kept; communication, hearing, sight or mobility needs; and anything else a responder should know.
5. Practical notes. Who has a spare key, any pets or dependants at home, where important documents are kept, and the date the sheet was last checked.

What to leave off

Write only what would help in an emergency. Avoid:

• Identity numbers such as Aadhaar or PAN, and bank details. A responder doesn't need them, and they're valuable to anyone who finds the sheet.
• Insurance policy numbers. The provider's name and helpline are usually enough to start, and policy documents can be kept separately.
• The full medicine list. Point to where the list is kept instead, so there's only one version to keep up to date.
• Anything the person isn't comfortable sharing. It's their information. Decide together what goes on the sheet.

Where to keep it

A sheet is only useful if people can find it, but it contains personal details, so think about who will see it.

• At home: somewhere trusted people know about but visitors won't see, such as a folder near the phone or inside a cupboard door.
• With family: a copy for each close family member, and a photo on their phone if they're comfortable with that.
• With the person: a folded copy in a bag or wallet can help if something happens away from home.

The US National Institute on Aging also suggests↗ (opens in a new tab) keeping emergency numbers in large print near each phone and saving them as favourites on mobile phones.

Keep it current

Put a reminder in your calendar to check the sheet every few months, and after any change of phone number, doctor, address or health. Update the "last checked" date when you do. Shred old copies rather than throwing them away.

Share it with the right people

Tell the people who might need it that the sheet exists and where it's kept: family, a regular helper, and a trusted neighbour. If several siblings share care, agree who is responsible for keeping it up to date. Our guide to coordinating care between siblings covers this.