Should you keep a record of your child's medical history

"Yes. If your child is ever ill or injured and requires emergency care, doctors will have many questions about his or her medical history. And even if you know all the answers in a calm moment, the most organized parent might not be able to remember the details of a child’s health history in a stressful situation," says Jack Moore, MD, a family practice specialist at Baptist Urgent Care.

Keep one copy of the record in an accessible place at home, one in each car, one at each parent’s workplace, and one in each parent’s bag or wallet.

"You should also supply your child’s day care center and babysitters with this list, along with the name and number of your child’s doctor," Dr. Moore explains.

• Record on your list any known allergies your child has to medications, both prescription and nonprescription.
• Certain medications can’t be taken together, so doctors need to know all medications (prescription and nonprescription) your child currently takes. In addition, you need to know the doses, the dosing schedules and when the medications were taken last.
• Pre-existing illnesses or conditions can have a great impact on the kinds of tests or treatments administered during an emergency. If your child has any health problem – from diabetes to epilepsy to asthma – emergency medical personnel must know.
• List the dates your child has been hospitalized and the types of operations he or she has undergone.
• Keep an updated record of all your child’s immunizations.

"It’s relatively easy to compile a written medical history for your child. And it could mean saving critical minutes – when they count most," Dr. Moore says.