Mid-August through September is the real risk window in Florida. If you did the registry and the go-bag in June, this is the piece that is probably still missing.

The one-page emergency sheet

One page a stranger can read in thirty seconds. Not a binder — a page. It should contain:

• Diagnoses, and baseline vitals — what normal looks like for your child
• Current medications and doses, and allergies
• Airway and feeding details, devices with their settings
• The seizure plan, if there is one
• How your child communicates pain
• What escalates them, and what calms them
• Specialist names and numbers, and who to call first

Tape a copy inside the front door. Put one in every bag. Give one to whoever would collect your child if you could not.

In the ER

Hand it over before they ask. Bring your own equipment. And say clearly, early: "This is baseline for my child, and this is what's different today." You are the only continuous expert on your child in that room — good ER staff will thank you for saying so out loud.

The generator warning worth repeating

Carbon monoxide kills more people after a Florida storm than the wind does during it. Outside, far from windows, every time, no exceptions.

Hurricanes, outages and the ER →