And why you need one.

Someone once asked me, what was in my Emergency Room To Go Bag? To which I replied… my what?

When I think of to-go bags a few things come to mind – they are great for pregnant people who may need to be ready at a moments notice, and I didn’t finish my dinner so I need a to-go bag for my leftovers. 

An Emergency Room to-go bag, though, was not on my radar until it needed to be on my radar, and by that point it was too late. 

A few years back, my legs decided to stop working for a very short period of time (we think due to a medicine reaction.) After an early evening trip to the Emergency Room which lasted until the early hours of the next day, my “planner” of a husband was insistent on me having a to-go bag. 

Those of us with chronic illness know that a trip to the ER at some point is probably inevitable. Those who have already “been there/done that”, know that you can be sitting in the waiting room for hours. Or, if you are lucky, you may be resting on an uncomfortable bed, in a cold room, in a paper gown, counting the minutes (or hours) until the doctor comes in. 

You’ll want to keep yourself occupied and also bring some comforts from home in case you will be there a while.

So the question then is, what the heck do I need to have in my ER to-go bag?

Some items are obvious, and some maybe not so obvious. 

What to bring and not bring to the ER:

  • INSURANCE COVERAGE

    • Make a photo copy for your to-go bag- Company, Group #

  • ID

    • make a photocopy to have in the bag in case you leave your wallet at home

  • CLOSE CONTACT’S INFO

    • Those in your inner circle who may need to know you are at the ER

  • PHARMACY OF CHOICE

    • Name, Phone, and Address

  • PAST DIAGNOSIS

  • PAST SURGERIES

  • CURRENT MEDICATIONS

  • CURRENT SUPPLEMENTS

    • Include dose, how many x per day, when you take them

  • ANY KNOWN ALLERGIES TO MEDICATIONS

  • MOST RECENT LABS

  • CURRENT PRIMARY PHYSICIAN

    • Name, phone number, and address

  • ANY OTHER DOCTORS YOU SEE

    • Name, phone number, and address

  • EXTRA PHONE CHARGER AND EARPHONES

  • BOOKS/MAGAZINES

  • WARM SOCKS AND SWEATER

  • CHANGE OF CLOTHES

  • SMALL, SOFT BLANKET

  • TRAVEL-SIZED TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE

  • FACE WIPES

    • You can find small, individually packages ones for travel

  • HAIR BRUSH AND HAIR BANDS

  • BOTTLE OF WATER AND NON-PERISHABLE SNACKS

    • EX: Protein bars, nuts, trail mix

  • SOME CASH

    • For Taxi’s or vending machines if needed

  • DON’T BRING

    • Expensive laptops

    • Fancy jewelry

    • A large amount of cash and credit cards

    • Your medications

      • Typically the ER is required to dispense all medications so you won’t need yours

    • Most toiletries will be provided, but bring anything you are particular about

Don’t put it off, guys and gals. If having a to-go bag ready can make a bad, potentially scary situation even just a little less overwhelming it is worth the effort of having one ready. 

So, what is going in your to-go bag?