College Shopping List Addendum: The Smart Med Card

To those of you with College-bound children I say congratulations! The fact that they are going, taking the initiative to better their future, should make you so proud! This is the time where they put the values and work-ethic you worked so hard to instill to the test. But, I do make one request, one that never seems to be handled in the detail it deserves:

Medical Emergency Contingency Plans
Scenario: Your child, on their way to Campus from their dorm, gets bumped at a cross-walk by a car taking a corner (I've seen this many times at my Alma Mater) and is rendered unconscious and in critical condition from a head-wound (sorry to be taking this to a level you don't want, but it's necessary). You, as a parent, perhaps States apart are listed as the primary contact and only you can point medical personnel treating your child to the primary care physician and medical records back home.

The condensed process of events:

• Campus, State, or local police, Fire/Rescue and Medical First Responders will be called to the scene. The determination of critical-condition is noted. During the time of assessment, ID and any medical information is sought out. One of two things may happen
• Your child has their campus ID and your contact information can be obtained.
• Your child has no ID on them and no one around can ID your child. Time is of the essence and your child is set to transport as John/Jane Doe.  
• NOTE: This is a tipping point as to whether Medical Care will either aid or exacerbate the situation based on lack of Medical History. Deadly drug interactions, allergic reactions...etc can be caused by supplying rudimentary care during transport.

• Your child is now in the care of the local hospital, is finally IDd and life-support continues. BUT, they will need medical records from their primary care provider, which could take hours between request-to-reception, hours that may fall outside the time-window your child has to survive.

You see, most actions that lead to a positive result in your child's chance of survival comes from acquired medical history. In fact, if your child carried their medical and health history on them, the amount of 'work' and 'guess-work' that has to be done at the scene by responders can be mitigated. They are left with educated decisions and an established plan-of-action!

As a parent, it is your job to instill work-ethic, the ability to make good decisions and teach them the tools and trade of safety and well-being. If you consider the fact that The Smart Med Card can contain every bit of information that your hospital has - what better going-away gift, gift of care and gift of love, could you give then a tool that will last a life-time and could very well be the one factor that leads to their survival during an Emergency. No matter where your child is in this world, they will continually be able to add to and update their Smart Med Card. No matter where in the world your child is, this card will be useable during an Emergency.

So, parents, of all the College-survival tools you may be considering getting for your child, how about considering one that could save their life. Remember, emergencies are not an IF, they are a WHEN, so prepare your children now!