Climbing on up...

...on top of that soapbox. Oh, I have a few. And I'm not sure what's spawning this latest rant. But humor me.

Carry. A. List. Of. Your. Medications. And. Allergies. With. You. At. All. Times.

So many people don't. First, the older people, who might've been raised in a time when doctors were more trustworthy or seen as more infallible (sorry, but I know too many doctors too well). Or the middle-aged people who are in some kind of denial: if I don't admit taking all these meds, even to myself, then I'm not really getting *that* old. And then the young, invincible people: I only take two medicines, why should I carry a list? (Because when you come in intubated because you rolled your car drunk, dumbass, it might've been helpful for us to know that one of those two has a blood-thinning effect.)

When asked what medicines they take, too many people have answers like "Oh, a whole handful, I don't know what exactly." or "A yellow one for my blood pressure, and then a little blue one at night." I prompt them by asking what they take it for. "I don't know, my doctor just said take it." (Riiiiight. And here, wash it down with some of this Kool-Aid.)

Even more importantly, they don't know their allergies. "Oh, I had a real bad reaction to something once, my lips got all swolled up and I ah-most died. I can't really remember what the name of that was."

Jesus, people. Very few of us plan our trips to the ER. (If you do, you know who you are, and so do we.) When you're there as a patient, I guarantee you'll be a little stressed out. Those of us who are fairly well-compensated to be there also get a little stressed out. It's a stressful place. And because you'll be stressed, your memory may not serve you perfectly. Contrary to popular belief, the ER does not have immediate access to your entire medical record dating back to the war years. And even if you are perfectly aware of your meds, dosages, and allergies, STILL keep a list. There's no telling when you might not be able to speak for yourself.

Hand the triage nurse a nice, concise list of your meds and allergies, and she will be (on the inside) whooping for joy. And you just might save your own life.

That is all.