What belongs on a family emergency contact sheet
In a stressful moment, nobody remembers phone numbers or spells their own street name calmly. A good emergency sheet does the remembering for you, so whoever is in your home — a sitter, a grandparent, a visiting relative — can act quickly instead of searching.
1. Your address, written out
If someone has to call 911, the first thing the dispatcher asks for is the address. Write it in full, including the town and any helpful detail such as "blue door, second house after the stop sign." Guests and sitters often do not know it by heart.
2. Who to call, in order
List both parents or guardians first, then one or two backups who live close enough to arrive quickly. Add a short note on when to call each person, such as "anything at all" or "if you can't reach us." A clear order removes hesitation.
3. Medical details for each person
Allergies, daily medications, asthma or other conditions, and where the EpiPen or inhaler is kept. For children, add their doctor's name and number. Short and specific beats long and vague: "peanut allergy, EpiPen in the blue pouch on the kitchen counter" is exactly right.
4. Poison control and the nearest hospital
In the US, poison control is 1-800-222-1222, and it is free and open around the clock. Add the name and address of the closest hospital or urgent care, since the nearest one is not always the one you would guess. Our sheet pre-fills the poison control number for you.
5. A trusted neighbor
Someone nearby who can be at your door in two minutes is worth a lot. Ask them first, and put their name and number on the sheet.
6. Where the safety gear lives
Note where the first-aid kit is, plus the fire extinguisher, flashlight and the water shut-off if you are comfortable including it. Everyone in the house should be able to find them in the dark.
Where to keep it
- On the fridge. It is the one spot every adult and sitter checks.
- On phones. Text the phone link to grandparents and regular sitters so it travels with them.
- In the car or go-bag. A second printed copy helps when you are away from home.
Keeping it current
An out-of-date sheet can be worse than none. Review it every season, and any time a phone number, medication, school or caregiver changes. A good habit is to check it when the clocks change, along with your smoke-detector batteries.
Talk it through
Take two minutes with older kids to point out where the sheet lives and what to do in an emergency: stay calm, call 911, and then call the first person on the list. Practicing once makes it far easier to do for real. For children old enough to understand, a simple rule like "if something feels wrong, get a grown-up or call for help" is a good starting point.
Questions
Is this family emergency contact sheet free?
Yes. You can fill in, print and share the core sheet for free, with no account. The optional Full Kit adds extra sections, unlimited kids and pets, and design themes.
Who should get a copy?
Anyone who might be in your home without you: sitters, grandparents, relatives and house guests. Print one for the fridge and text the phone link to the rest.
Is my information private?
Your information stays in your own browser and never reaches our servers. Phone links carry the info inside the link itself, so only people you send the link to can read it.
Can I save it as a PDF?
Yes. Tap “Print / save as PDF” and choose “Save as PDF” as the printer.
How often should I update it?
Once a season, and whenever a phone number, medication or caregiver changes.