Emergency Medical Information Sheet (ICE): What EMS Looks For, from a Physician

Hoja de información médica de emergencia: lo que buscan los paramédicos

Written by a family medicine physician & certified medical interpreter · Ambos Health

In an emergency, the person who knows your health history best may not be able to speak, whether that's because they're unconscious, confused, in pain, or simply not fluent in English. Paramedics and emergency clinicians work fast with whatever information is in front of them. A one-page emergency medical information sheet, plus “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contacts, puts the most important facts where responders can find them in seconds.

What responders look for first

In the first minutes, EMS crews and emergency clinicians want to know a short list of things. Put them on one page, in this order:

1. Name, date of birth and preferred language, and whether an interpreter is needed.
2. Allergies and the reaction (e.g. “penicillin: swelling of the throat”).
3. Current medicines with doses, especially blood thinners, insulin and other diabetes medicines, seizure medicines, and heart medicines.
4. Major conditions: heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma or COPD, kidney disease, dementia, pregnancy.
5. Devices and implants: pacemaker or defibrillator, insulin pump, stents, shunts.
6. Baseline: “normally walks and talks clearly” or “has memory problems at baseline.” This helps responders tell what's new.
7. ICE contacts: at least two, with relationship and phone number, and which one speaks English if relevant.
8. Advance directive or portable medical order (such as a POLST or out-of-hospital DNR): say whether one exists and where the original is.
9. Primary-care clinician and preferred hospital.

Keep it to one page. A sheet with twelve paragraphs won't be read in an emergency. Detailed history belongs in your binder; the emergency sheet is the summary. For the medicine section, start from your full medication list.

Where to keep it

On the refrigerator

Responders entering a home often check the fridge, and some local programs give out envelopes or magnets for exactly this purpose. Ask your local EMS or senior center whether they have one. Put the sheet in a clearly labeled envelope (“Emergency Medical Information / Información médica de emergencia”) on the front of the fridge, and a copy inside the front door if someone lives alone.

In your wallet

A folded copy or wallet card behind your ID. If you take blood thinners, use insulin, have a seizure disorder or a severe allergy, consider a medical alert bracelet or necklace as well; it's visible even when a wallet isn't checked.

On your phone's lock screen

Both major smartphone platforms let first responders see emergency information without unlocking the phone:

• iPhone: open the Health app, tap your profile picture, then Medical ID. Fill in conditions, medicines, allergies and emergency contacts, and turn on Show When Locked. Responders can view it from the lock screen via Emergency → Medical ID.
• Android: look for Emergency information or Personal Safety in Settings (the exact menu name varies by manufacturer and version). Add medical information and emergency contacts, and make sure they can be shown on the lock screen.

Labeling a contact “ICE – Maria (daughter)” is still a useful backup, but the built-in Medical ID is easier for responders to reach on a locked phone.

Bilingual households

If anyone in the household speaks mainly Spanish, make the sheet bilingual and write the preferred language at the top. It tells the hospital to arrange a qualified interpreter early, which is the patient's right in most U.S. hospitals (see your right to a free medical interpreter). It also means a Spanish-speaking family member can read and update the sheet.

Keep it current

Put “Updated: [date]” at the top. Review it whenever a medicine changes, after any hospital stay, and at least twice a year. A good habit: update it when you change the clocks in spring and fall. Replace every copy (fridge, wallet, phone) at the same time so they never disagree.

Frequently asked questions

What should be on an emergency medical information sheet?

Name, date of birth and preferred language; allergies with reactions; current medicines and doses; major conditions; implanted devices; baseline function; two emergency contacts; whether an advance directive exists; and your primary-care clinician and preferred hospital.

What does ICE mean on a phone?

ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. It refers to emergency contacts that responders can call. Today the most reliable approach is filling in your phone's built-in Medical ID or emergency information and allowing it to show on the lock screen.

Where should I keep my emergency medical information?

Keep one copy in a labeled envelope on the refrigerator, one in your wallet, and the key details in your phone's Medical ID with lock-screen access turned on. Update all copies together.

¿Qué debe llevar una hoja de información médica de emergencia?

Alergias, medicamentos con dosis, enfermedades importantes, contactos de emergencia, idioma preferido y si necesita intérprete, en una sola página con la fecha de actualización.

General education, not medical advice. Your own clinician's advice comes first. In an emergency, call 911.