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PUT
A LITTLE EXTRA SAFETY IN YOUR POCKET
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH PENINSULA HOME
CARE'S FREE STAY HEALTHY ID CARD
Keeps
Medication, Medical History and Doctors'
Contact Information All in One Place
SALISBURY, MD - Peninsula Home Care
(PHC), a leading, award winning home
care company founded in 1985, today
announced its campaign to promote safer
travel during the holiday season by
offering a free Stay Healthy ID Card
to residents across the Eastern Shore
of Maryland and lower Delaware.
"During the holidays, many people
travel far from home, their doctor and
pharmacy. This little card could be
a lifesaver," said Nancy Bagwell, branch
director, Peninsula Home Care. "The
Peninsula Home Care Stay Healthy ID
Card ensures travelers they have all
of the critical medical information
they need right at their fingertips."
The wallet size card includes space
to record the following medical information:
- Date
of birth
- Blood
type
- Allergies
- Medications
(strength and frequency)
- Medical
history
- Physical
Therapy Notes
- Doctor
contact information
- Emergency
contacts
- Location
of closest hospital where visiting
Upon
returning from holiday travel, patients
are encouraged to keep the card accessible
by posting it on their refrigerator
or by the phone. To order a free Health
History ID Card, call the PHC Salisbury
branch office at 410/543-7550.
Traveling Guidelines: Know
Your Limits
Before a patient embarks on a trip after
illness or surgery, Bagwell recommends
that the first step should be to visit
the doctor to find out if they are ready
to travel.
"The holidays take on such importance
that people feel they have to do anything
they can to get 'home' or to their loved
ones," said Bagwell. "Sometimes this
is the absolute worst thing to do because
travel can set someone's therapy back
greatly if they are not really ready.
Other times, travel could be 'just what
the doctor ordered' because the emotional
lift helps the physical recovery. Getting
the opinion of your health care provider
is crucial to making the right decisions."
Bagwell offers seven more tips to consider
when planning a trip.
-
When booking reservations request
easy-to-access or handicapped seats
in advance
- Alert
the airline, train or bus line of
any medical conditions such as heart
disease, seizures and disabilities.
- Request
wheelchair assistance in advance
-
If the traveler relies on oxygen,
contact the airline about its on-board
oxygen transport and in-flight oxygen
usage policies
- The
traveler's medical information, copies
of prescriptions and medications should
be packed in a carry-on bag that stays
with the traveler
- Place
important contact numbers in the travel
bag such as emergency contacts, doctor's
phone number and the destination number
and address
- The
traveler should dress in comfortable,
loose clothing and compression stockings
to lower the risk of heat stroke,
hypertension and high blood pressure
from blood clots that can form after
sitting for long periods of time.
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