In Case of Emergency

Who wants to think about those horrible emergencies that could happen to you or a loved one? But wouldn’t it be self-assuring to know you have vital personal and medical information for first responders and hospital staff in case of an emergency. An accessible and convenient place to keep emergency information is on your smartphone, but only if you know how to do it so the person who needs to access the information can see it without unlocking your phone.

In case of emergency (ICE) can be added to the phone of each of your family members whether they have an apple or android device. Here is a way that everyone who has a smartphone can use a simple technological app to his or her advantage.

ICE on IPhone

All IPhones with IOS 8 or later have the red heart health app. Most people think of this app as an alternative to a fit watch, proving the number of steps walked and distance traveled per day. What you may not know is this app has a medical id section where you can record necessary personal information for someone to access in case of an emergency. After opening the IPhone health app you will see the *Medical Id tab.  In this section you have an option to record your date of birth, medical conditions, medications taken, allergies, emergency contacts, blood type, weight and height. If your phone is locked a medical professional can access the medical data you inputted by pressing the “emergency” on the lower left hand corner of the number screen. 

ICE on Android

Android phones are slightly more complicated since there are many different versions. So on an android phone you have a choice to put an emergency contact on a locked screen through your settings or download an app.

Android Settings:

Here is a step-by-step way to put an emergency contact on your phone that is accessible when locked.

*Go to device settings

*Select the security option

*Click on screen security

*Choose Owner Info

*Check the box that says ‘show owner info on locked screen’

You can then type in the emergency contact information in the field provided. Once done lock your phone and you will see the ICE contact you inputted.

Android App:

There are many emergency apps for Androids, but beware many of them are not accessible on a lock screen.  My favorite is the ICE app available on Google apps, which will work on any Android 4.2 or newer.  The $3.99 cost of this app is worth the price since you can add a lot more information then going to the settings section of your device. Similar to IPhone the app allows you to list your emergency contact, insurance, allergies, medical conditions and medicines. There is also a companion app, which permits storage of information for the whole family.

I hope you will add in a layer of protection for you and your family members by turning your phone’s lock screen into a potentially life saving ICE tool. 

To learn more information on family balance tips visit:

www.empoweringulifecoaching.com 

Safe Holiday Feasting for Those with Food Allergies

Safe Holiday Feasting for Those with Food Allergies

By Dawn Reiner M.Ed., CPC

www.empoweringulifecoaching.com

Holidays in general tend to be food focused, creating traditions and meaningful memories. More then any time of year, fall and winter offer a succession of food focused holidays; from Halloween to Thanksgiving and Hanukkah to Christmas.  Yet for those who suffer from food allergies holidays can be a stressful time. 

According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allergies among kids jumped 50% from 1997 to 2011 bringing the current number of children who suffer from food allergies of some kind to over 6 million. For some people just one bite of an allergic food can cause a life threatening anaphylactic reaction.  Sometimes odors and cross contamination can cause a serious threat. Yet with planning, communication and preparation you and your family can enjoy the holidays safely. 

Tips For The Allergy Sufferers

Check In Before Hand

Dinning out can be very stressful for parents of a food allergy sufferer. Once you get invited for dinner call the host and ask what is being served.  Communicate your child’s food allergies and see if there is anything that would be safe for her to eat.  If there are food allergy concerns, offer to bring a similar dish(es) to prevent your child from feeling excluded. 

Bring A Safe Dish

It is always wise to bring a dish or two to a party even if it is not a potluck so there is definitely something for your child to eat.

Eat Before The Party

Eating a light meal prior to the party will help focus the evening on hanging out with friends and family and off of food.

The Rules

On the way to the party, remind your allergic child that he must ask before he can eat anything!

Host the Party

When you do the cooking you control the ingredients.  Have your guest bring none food items and simple dishes, such as a fruit salad that you know won’t cause any harm. 

Tips For The Host:

Hang On To Labels

Keep food labels for everything used to prepare a festive homemade holiday meal so an allergic guest may double-check the ingredients.

Encourage Signage

If you are hosting a potluck party, ask your guests to create a sign with their name and a listing all the ingredients used in their prepared dish.  This way a food allergy sufferer can easily identify the dishes they can eat as well as speak with the cook if they have any questions.

Cross Contamination

Be sure to wash utensils, cutting boards, pots, pans and grills before and after cooking to avoid cross contamination. 

To lean more on how to mange your child’s food allergies contact Dawn at www.empoweringulifecoahing.com