Preparedness plans will help you organize information about yourself and your seizures in one place so you can have it with you at all times. This is particularly important to have while traveling away from home and others may not know what is going on or how to help you. Seizure Plans can be updated easily to include the latest information about your seizure management. If you haven’t done a plan yet, visit Developing Preparedness Plans and start now!

Seizure Plans

Visit My Resource Kit and print off a copy of My Seizure Plan. If you already have a copy, make an appointment with your doctor or nurse to review it. Make sure they know your travel plans and can help you update this appropriately. If you don’t have a Seizure Plan yet, print one and take it to your doctor or nurse for help in filling it out. You may find that the form raises new questions for you and can help you fine-tune your seizure management plans.

Seizure Calendars

You’ll want to track your seizures while traveling, to help you identify any triggers and know when to use ‘as needed’ treatments. Print a seizure calendar – My Monthly Seizure Calendar or My Seizure Event Diary - to take with you. Make sure you write down when you use an ‘as needed’ treatment and how it worked.

Medicine Schedules

Keeping track of your medicines is one of the most important parts of keeping good seizure control while traveling. Print a copy of My Medicine Schedule. Review it with your doctor or nurse and make sure to include any adjustments in when to take your medicines if you will be traveling to a different time zone. Make sure to add the ‘as needed’ medicines on this list.

AED Information Sheets

Take a print-out of information about your seizure medicine and practical instructions on how to use it.

My Health Care Team

Print a copy of My Health Care Contacts and take a completed copy with you. Hopefully this list will help!

Other Medical Information and Resources:

Carrying other ways of identifying important medical conditions is critical if you are traveling, especially if you are alone.

• If you don’t have a medical alert bracelet or necklace, now is the time to get one. A bracelet or necklace can help others know that you have a medical condition that may need attention. There are many different types of jewelry. Some are just pieces of jewelry that can be engraved with your key medical conditions or health information. Others may also give a phone number where responders can get other information about you or who to call in an emergency.
• If you are traveling for long periods, consider taking more medical information with you. For example, there are some computer programs that allow you to carry electronic medical records with you.

For more information:

• List of resources for medical information
• Medic Alert Foundation: http:/www.medicalert.org
• American Medical ID: http:/www.americanmedical-id.com
• Medical ID Cards to print at home: http:/www.medids.com/free-id.php

Continue to Teaching Others

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:7/25/07