Managing Hemophilia Preparing For The ER
For hemophilia patients, many minor injuries can be treated with factor at home or at your treatment center and are not considered hemophilia emergencies. Some injuries, however, require treatment at an emergency department.
It Is Time For Hemophilia Patients To Head To The ER If1:
- You experience a bleed and you are not on home infusion.
- You suffer a significant head or abdominal injury.
- There is blood in your stool.
- You are vomiting blood.
- There is a lack of sensation in your arm or leg.
- You experience any unusual bleeding.
If you are unsure about whether your hemophilia symptoms constitute an emergency, call your physician or treatment center for guidance.
Find More Help And Resources Here
- Get an overview of hemophilia.
- Learn more about educational programs.
- Proactively manage your health insurance.
Planning Ahead For Hemophilia Emergencies
For hemophilia patients and their families, the following suggestions will make your hemophilia emergencies much more manageable:
- If you have children, make babysitting arrangements in advance. Set up an emergency babysitting plan with a relative, friend, or neighbor.
- Be knowledgeable about hemophilia. You should know the options available for hemophilia treatment, including the usual dosage of factor, as well as your most common hemophilia symptoms.
- Carry a card or letter designed for hemophilia patients and signed by your physician. This card outlines information about hemophilia and lists hemophilia treatment guidelines. Make copies of this card and keep it in several places, such as your wallet, your car and your bag.
- Hemophilia patients often wear a MedicAlert® bracelet. Such identification may save your life if you are injured and unable to speak for yourself. It provides ER personnel with important information about hemophilia.
- Prepare an ER bag which includes these items:
- Clotting factor and infusion supplies.
- An ice pack so you can begin icing the bleeding joint on the way to the ER.
- A card or letter from your physician that outlines your hemophilia treatment regimen, including dosage.
- Names and phone numbers for your hematologist, pediatrician, or treatment center.
- Snacks, books, music and favorite blankets or pillows.
Note: ThereForYou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
Note: Links to external Websites are provided for your convenience. However, they lead to Websites not created, managed, or maintained by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Baxter is not responsible for, and does not necessarily endorse, the opinions or therapeutics represented on these external pages.
References
- The Emergency Room: Prepare To Succeed. Canadian Hemophilia Society website. http://www.hemophilia.ca/files/er2.pdf. Accessed June 8, 2011.
