Every home must have a clear display about emergency contacts.
Life can be unpredictable. It often changes course without notice — one moment everything is routine, and the next, chaos strikes. We live in a world where we prepare meticulously for birthdays, vacations, and festivals, yet many of us remain astonishingly unprepared for something far more consequential — a medical emergency.
Not long ago, I was called by a neighbour to attend to a medical crisis at their home. The family was well educated, financially comfortable, and seemingly in control of their lives. But in those critical moments, when swift and decisive action was most needed, I found them confused, panicking and completely unprepared. They didn’t know where their medical records and insurance cards were, which hospital to go to, whom to call, or simply what to do next.
The incident stayed with me. It was not about a lack of awareness or capability on behalf of the family — it was about a mindset. And this mindset, I believe, is a widespread one.
There exists, in all of us, an unspoken belief that can be termed as “the law of personal invincibility”. It’s the quiet conviction that illness, accidents, and emergencies happen to other people. That they will never happen to us. Or if and when they happen, it will at a time and place of our convenience.
This belief, surprisingly has its advantages. It is this belief that allows us to live without constant fear. It gives us the confidence to take risks, pursue ambitions, and plan for the future. It’s what fuels human progress.
However, when it comes to matters of personal health, this same belief becomes dangerously counterproductive. It blinds us to reality. It prevents us from acknowledging that we, too, are vulnerable — that life, despite all our safeguards, remains uncertain. And so, we put off simple, vital steps of preparedness until it’s too late.
Medical emergencies rarely announce themselves. A sudden chest pain, a fainting spell, a road accident, or a fall at home — these situations demand immediate and informed responses. Every minute lost in confusion or indecision can mean the difference between recovery and tragedy.
The truth is simple but sobering: no amount of wealth, education, or influence can replace preparedness. Emergencies do not discriminate.
So how can we, as individuals and families, be better prepared? While no plan can make anyone completely immune to medical crises, a few basic steps can drastically improve how we respond when they occur.
Most of us carry a smartphone everywhere, but few realize that it can be a powerful tool during emergencies. It can be used to set up emergency contacts which first responders can access without even unlocking your device, to track your location and to store health ID or medical information.
It is important to include details like allergies, medications, blood group and existing conditions in your phone so that emergency responders can access them when needed. In dire emergencies, seconds saved in extracting this information can make all the difference.
In emergencies, people often lose precious minutes deciding which hospital to visit or which doctor to call. Those are minutes you cannot afford to lose. Every family should have a clear list of preferred hospitals and doctors for specific emergencies (cardiac, neurological, trauma, or paediatric).
Having these preferences clearly stated prevents unnecessary disputes later and ensures you are taken to the facility or specialist of your choice. It’s like having an emergency GPS — it tells everyone where to head when the road suddenly turns rough.
Financial preparedness for emergencies is equally crucial. Being financially unprepared for a medical emergency is like going to buy a car or a house without researching prices.
It is a good exercise to conduct simple enquiries such as how much does a treatment for a heart attack (or stroke or a road accident) cost in a hospital of your choice.
If you have health insurance, keep it updated and accessible and make sure your spouse or family knows how to use it. Also be aware about what your insurance covers (and more importantly what it does not cover). If you are uninsured, research public hospitals where emergency facilities are available.
All these are simple questions with easily accessible answers, provided one looks for them. Financial capability should never be the reason for delayed or denied treatment.
Every home, particularly those with the elderly or vulnerable, must have a clear display about emergency contacts (doctors, ambulance services, nearest hospitals, and close relatives). Similarly, medical documents (discharge summaries, prescription lists, and insurance papers) should be kept in one place.
During a crisis, clarity is a gift, confusion a curse.
Ultimately, preparedness is not just a system’s responsibility. It is a personal one. Each of us must take ownership of our own safety and health readiness. In a crisis, help rarely comes from somewhere far away — it begins with what you’ve done beforehand.
If you have thought through your emergency plan, shared it with your family, kept your information handy, and understood your financial options, you are already halfway to safety. Life is fickle, and uncertainty is its only certainty. We may not be able to prevent every emergency, but we can surely prepare for them.
So take a few hours this week to do the uncomfortable but necessary: make that list, check your phone settings, talk to your family, review your insurance, and identify your preferred hospitals. Because when life takes a sudden turn, it’s not panic or prayer that saves lives — it’s preparation.
And remember: well prepared is truly half done.
Prof Hemant Madan
Interventional Cardiologist and Programme Head, Cardiac Sciences, Narayana Health
