The old good tennis

thinks that it will never happen to them. They will never be rushed to the hospital, nor will their family members need to be contacted in case of emergency.  Well, think again.  Even the healthiest family members can have an accident and need assistance. Here are some tips to help your friends and family take immediate action if your family is affected by a crisis.

Have a cell phone entry for "In Case of Emergency" or ICE.  Emergency medical personal will look for this first.  Program in more than one if you can.  You can call them ICE 1, ICE 2, and so on.  Also, carry a card in your wallet/purse with any medications that may cause you to have an allergic reaction.  Have the names and numbers of family members you would like to have contacted if you are unable to do so yourself. 

Have a phone sheet at your home or give it to family members in advance. This sheet should include anyone needed to care for your home or children, including their schools’ telephone numbers.  This will make it easier for anyone taking care of your kids and/or home to do so.

Keep a small travel kit ready for each family member.  If you are hospitalized your family members can bring this to the hospital for you.  If your children need to go stay with a family member, they will be ready to go quickly and easily.

If you are out running, playing tennis, etc, use a shoe or bracelet identification system.  This should include names and numbers of those you want to be contacted first.  Tell your family members you are putting their names on your identification. Road ID (www.roadid.com) offers a service that will also house your medical information.

Know your medical history.  If you are on medications, know their name and dose.  Go to the doctor regularly, and pay attention to key health numbers – Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.  Providing emergency personnel an idea of your “normal” levels and general health condition will help them determine what is wrong. 

Can’t remember your medications and health history?  Don’t worry! You can create yourself a mini cheat sheet on the computer.  Type it up, shrink the font, and tuck it in your wallet.  You can do the same for your kids too and put it in their backpacks.

Contact your kids’ schools about what the action steps they would take in case of emergency.  Also, make sure a family member (with proper identification) can pick up your children in case you are unable to. 

Talk to your family members.  Devise a plan about who would take care of children, who will be responsible for calling other family members, etc.  Having a plan in place will help a stressful situation go much more smoothly. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help!  If you need assistance, ask for it!  Family members, school teachers, and friends will all step up and help you in an emergency situation.  Don’t suffer because you are worried about taking up someone else’s time.

Make copies of your address book.  Many phone and handheld address books will allow you to make print-outs.  Having at least one other family member with a copy to make calls on your behalf if you are hospitalized. 

Resource Box:

Bonnie Joy Dewkett is a professional organizer, author, and motivational speaker.  Her company, The Joyful Organizer, creates and implements organizational systems for the home or office.  These changes allow her Customers to create calm from chaos at work and at home.  She is a member of The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), and The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD).  Visit us on the Web at www.thejoyfulorganizer.com. 

Wearing a ring, bracelet or pendant with the birthstones of her children is a wonderful way for a mother to always feel close to her children.  Each mother’s ring must be uniquely designed to hold the birth stone of each child in such a way that the overall appearance is elegant and beautiful.  Some jewelry stores have blank mother’s rings that are ready to be fitted with stones, which have the flexibility to hold anywhere from one to several stones.  Other customers wish to have a custom-designed ring with the stones fitted into a unique pattern of their own choosing.

Some mother’s rings have a place in the design to have a tiny engraved name by each stone, which makes the ring even more personalized.  Special engraving on the inside of the band would be a good place for the family name, making the ring a keepsake for generations to come. Stackable rings with the birth stone, name, and birth date could be a way of adding to a mother’s ring as the family grows. Gold or Black Hills gold would be a lovely choice of metal for the ring itself.  Sterling silver is always a good, but less expensive option.

A mother’s ring can be a gift from Mom to herself.  It is also a thoughtful gift from her family that may be presented to her on a special occasion, such as Mother’s Day, Christmas, or her birthday.  Dads may give her a mother’s ring on their anniversary, too.  Any time is a good time to show a mother how much she is loved and appreciated.

Just as thoughtful are pendants with children’s birthstones placed upon the design.  The pendant may be a simple oval or other basic shape, or it may be more elaborately designed with a free-form shape and additional engraving as part of the design.  Lovely crosses or other religious shapes can connect the family’s faith to their children. Suspended on a delicate gold chain, a mother’s pendant may be continually worn, just like a ring, or worn on special occasions.  That’s part of the enjoyment of having personalized mother’s jewelry; she can choose when she wants to wear it.

Another way to give Mother a personalized family gift is to give her a bracelet with the birth stones of her children. The bracelet may be stones linked together individually, like a tennis bracelet, or they may be on a gold plate set into the links of the bracelet.  A charm bracelet with a different charm for each child could be a unique way to commemorate each child as the family grows. The charms could signify the personality or interest of the child. 

How about a grandmother’s bracelet? Working with a qualified jeweler can give you more exciting options and ideas to make a family bracelet something that she will love to wear and show her friends.

Whatever the occasion, giving your mother a ring, necklace, or bracelet to remind her of her family is a thoughtful gift that she will surely appreciate, and will show your love for her.