Are you prepared for a medical emergency? Not too long ago, we talked about the importance of having a living will or advance medical directive in place in case you’re incapacitated and can’t make your own medical decisions. But what smaller things can you do to be on the ready?

Know your blood type.
Carry identification on you at all times. Extra Credit: Include the name and phone number of an emergency contact.
Keep a current list of your medications and dosages somewhere accessible.
Keep your doctor’s name and phone number handy, and program them into your phone or PDA.
Make sure you understand …read more

It’s another theme day here at the b5media Science & Health Channel, and it’s all about emergency preparedness. Tris Hussey, the not-so-homely mind behind The Homely Scientist is hosting this month, so be sure to check out the other contributions.
Now, back to my original question: Are you ready for a health emergency? “Gee, Kristen, what’s a health emergency?” I’m so glad you asked! A health emergency is any kind of unexpected health crisis, anything from a heart attack or a stroke to a car accident or accidental poisoning — whatever you can think of. In …read more

January isn’t just National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month — it’s also National Blood Donor Month. According to AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks),
Every day in the U.S. approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities to treat patients with cancer and other diseases, to support organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident and trauma victims. Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to …read more