In case of emergency, cardiac arrest survivors and ICD owners need to ensure that anyone responding can quickly access the right medical information. When you have a serious heart condition, always carrying identification that details your diagnosis, devices, medications, and emergency contacts could be the difference between receiving appropriate care and delays that cost lives.
What to Carry In Case of Emergency as a Cardiac Arrest Survivor
Your ICD identification card — which you should have received from the hospital after implantation — is the minimum you should carry at all times. It contains the make, model, and settings of your device, which is invaluable for any medical team treating you. Some hospitals also issue plastic credit card-sized identification cards. Both are particularly important when passing through airport security or attending any medical appointment.
Some hospitals have also started to issue plastic credit card sized identification too…
These should probably be considered the minimum you should carry and should definately be on you when you travel through secure areas such as airports.
Many people also opt to wear a medical ID bracelet, band, or other jewellery that provides further information. These are a particularly good idea if you are not always with someone who knows your condition — for example when travelling alone or taking part in sporting activities.
What Information to Include on In Case of Emergency ID
The following details should be on any in case of emergency identification you carry as a cardiac arrest survivor:
Full name and address Date of birth Next of kin & contact details Allergies Cardiac condition Medications The fact you have an ICD, pacemaker etc Settings and technical information of your implant/lead
Obviously the type of ID you carry will limit the amount of information you can provide, but some is better than none. Whilst it may seem over the top to go to these lengths, planning for the unforeseen is always worthwhile — especially for cardiac arrest survivors whose condition may be invisible to bystanders.
Members of the community have suggested the following suppliers of medical IDs. Some, like MedicAlert, provide additional services at a premium and are worth considering. The British Heart Foundation also has guidance on medical ID for people with heart conditions.
ICE on Your Smartphone: In Case of Emergency Features
In case of emergency, your smartphone can also act as a source of critical information. Both iPhone and Android have built-in Medical ID or ICE features that can be accessed from the lock screen without unlocking the phone — meaning emergency responders can see your cardiac history, medications, and emergency contacts even if they cannot get into your device.
Please let us know if you have any other suggestions for our list.
If you have a smartphone you can use an In Case of Emergency (ICE) feature or app on your phone. On iPhone, this is built into the Health app. On Android, it is available in the Emergency Information section of Settings. You can follow this guide to enable the ICE feature on most smartphone types.
See also: Practical Issues After Cardiac Arrest, Travelling After Cardiac Arrest, ICD Electromagnetic Compatibility, and ICD — Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.
Android ICE Apps in the Play store
iOS Apps in the iTunes store (via find.io)
And of course there are always extreme measures to get the message across!
