Creating a one-page emergency health summary
What to include on a “grab sheet” that paramedics and emergency staff can read in under a minute — and how to keep it current.
By the Personal Care Records founders 2 min readUpdated 20 September 2026
In an emergency department, the first person to see your loved one may have never met anyone with their condition. You may be frightened, exhausted or not even present. A single page that explains the essentials can save time, prevent mistakes and make sure the person is treated as an individual.
Keep it to one page
Emergency staff are busy. A thick folder will be skimmed; a single page will be read. Use clear headings, short phrases and a readable font size. Put the most safety-critical information — allergies and critical medicines — at the very top.
What to include
- Full name, date of birth, Medicare number and a recent photo.
- Allergies and adverse reactions, with what happens (e.g. “penicillin — rash and facial swelling”).
- Main diagnoses, in order of relevance.
- Current medicines with doses and times, and when the last dose was given if you can add it.
- Critical instructions: rescue medication protocols, “nil by mouth”, feeding tube details, positioning needs.
- Baseline: what is normal for this person — usual communication, mobility, breathing, oxygen saturation, level of alertness.
- How they communicate pain or distress, and what calms them.
- Key contacts: next of kin, GP, main specialist, and any existing advance care directive.
Describe “normal” — it matters more than you think
One of the most important things a carer knows, and a stranger doesn’t, is what the person is usually like. If someone is normally non-verbal, staff need to know that before they assess alertness. If resting oxygen levels usually sit at 93%, that context changes how a reading is interpreted. A short “what’s normal for me” section helps clinicians notice real changes rather than mistaking a person’s baseline for an emergency, or vice versa.
Where to keep it
Keep printed copies in the places you’ll need them: on the fridge (paramedics are often trained to look there), in the car, in a day bag or wheelchair pocket, and with anyone who provides respite. A digital version on your phone means you can send it immediately to a hospital team or another carer. Whatever you choose, make sure every copy is the same current version.
Review it regularly
Put a date at the bottom of the page and set a reminder to review it every three months, and after every medicine change or hospital stay. Out-of-date information in an emergency can be worse than none, because staff may reasonably trust what is written.
This guide shares general information and lived experience. It is not medical advice. Always follow the guidance of qualified health professionals, and in an emergency call 000.
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