A family emergency contact card is the short version of your readiness plan. It should help a child, caregiver, school employee, or first responder reach the right people and recognize urgent needs without opening a full binder.
The card should be readable in seconds, current, and limited to information appropriate for a portable document.
Build your family plan and gather the information for your card
Information to include
Parent and child
- Parent’s full name and primary phone number
- Child’s full name and preferred name
- Child’s date of birth, when appropriate for the card’s purpose
- Home address
- A current parent or family photo when it would help reunification
Primary and backup contacts
List at least two trusted adults. Include each person’s name, relationship, phone number, and an indication of who should be called first.
Add an out-of-area contact for disasters affecting local phone service. Ready.gov recommends choosing a shared contact and planning how family members will reconnect when separated.
Critical medical information
Include only the facts someone may need immediately:
- Serious allergies and typical reaction
- Critical medical conditions
- Essential medications
- Medical-alert information
- Pediatrician or primary provider
- Preferred hospital, when relevant
- Health-insurance contact or limited member information when appropriate
For complex conditions, the card should point to a separate care plan rather than attempting to compress clinical instructions into a few lines.
School and reunification details
- School or childcare name and phone number
- Main office or teacher contact
- Approved pickup people
- Important pickup restrictions stated accurately
- Family meeting place near home
- Family meeting place outside the neighborhood
Do not assume the card changes the school’s approved-pickup records. Update those records directly.
Information to leave off a portable card
Do not include information that creates unnecessary identity, financial, or home-security risk:
- Social Security numbers
- Bank or credit-card information
- Passwords or access codes
- Full copies of custody or legal documents
- Hidden-key locations or alarm codes
- Detailed medical history unrelated to immediate safety
- Information about other family members who do not need to be identified
Keep those details in a protected family emergency binder.
Make the card usable by a child
Use plain language and large type. Explain to the child when to use the card and which adult to approach for help. A younger child may need a caregiver to carry the card, while an older child may keep one in a backpack or wallet.
Practice simple actions:
- Call 911 during immediate danger.
- Give the card to a police officer, firefighter, paramedic, teacher, or another clearly identified safe adult.
- Call or text the first listed contact.
- Use the family meeting plan when instructed by responsible adults.
Do not make a child responsible for managing a complicated emergency. The card is a tool for reaching adults.
Keep copies where they can be reached
Appropriate locations may include:
- Parent’s wallet
- Child’s backpack or wallet
- Primary caregiver’s home
- Family emergency kit
- Vehicle emergency kit
- Locked-phone emergency information
- A secured digital copy available offline
Balance access with privacy. A card carried in a backpack should contain less sensitive information than the secured copy given to the primary caregiver.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends an ICE, or In Case of Emergency, contact in a phone. Choose someone who knows important medical information and can answer questions about allergies and medications.
Create a separate caregiver sheet
The contact card is not enough for an adult caring for the child overnight. Give that person the fuller babysitter and emergency-caregiver information sheet, including routines, medication instructions, school details, transportation, and home safety.
Review the card every six months
Print the review date on the card. Update it immediately after changes to:
- Phone numbers or address
- Primary or backup caregivers
- School or childcare
- Allergies, medications, or medical conditions
- Insurance
- Custody orders or pickup restrictions
- Family meeting locations
Destroy outdated copies so two conflicting cards are not in circulation.
Frequently asked questions
Should an emergency card include a child’s Social Security number?
No. A portable card should contain only information needed for immediate safety and contact. Keep Social Security numbers, financial information, passwords, and full legal records in a secure location.
Where should I keep copies of the card?
Keep appropriate copies with the child, parent, primary caregiver, and emergency kit. Choose secure locations that are likely to be available when the family is separated.
How often should the card be updated?
Review it every six months and immediately after changes to phone numbers, caregivers, school, medical needs, insurance, address, or custody restrictions.
Related guides
- How to Make a Single-Parent Emergency Plan
- Emergency Information for Babysitters and Caregivers
- What Happens If a Parent Is Hospitalized?
Sources
- Ready.gov, Make a Plan
- CDC, Keeping Children Safe Away From Home
- American Academy of Pediatrics, ICE Emergency Contacts
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Information to Bring to the ER
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