Phone Numbers to Keep Handy

Backup Phone Number List

Any list of emergency contact numbers should be written down for easy access in case of an urgent situation, but what about your other frequently called numbers? Do you have a notebook with your main calling numbers handy? Cell phones and rapid-redial codes on land line phones make it easy to forget important numbers. If your phone is lost or stolen, having a database or an address book with your most frequently called contact information can help you quickly recover your numbers and get them entered into a new phone. If you don't have a backup for your current list of important telephone numbers, try contacting your phone company to request an itemized calling list from your last billing period. This will help recover your most important telephone numbers.

Medical Numbers

Do you have a loved one who receives specialized care? Your list of important telephone numbers should include any specialist your family member sees on a regular basis. If an emergency requires immediate care, calling the specialist from your list of doctor phone numbers could save precious time-- especially when a particular course of treatment is required for a medical condition that takes a turn for the worse.

Emergency room staff are trained in general lifesaving techniques. If your loved one requires special medications, or is currently taking medications that complicate general treatment, the specialist can advise you on a cell phone on the way to the hospital. Urgent care staff who know about special medicines, allergies and other concerns can better treat your loved one in a medical emergency. Make sure the specialist is on your list of doctor phone numbers.

Emergency Numbers for Those That Can't Leave Home

If you have a loved one who needs part-time care or has limited mobility, it's important to keep a list of emergency contact phone numbers available in a permanent display next to the telephone. Your list should be in large, bold print or block letters. Be sure to include all dialing instructions--even the most obvious such as dialing a "1" before an out-of area phone number. Keeping the emergency contact numbers programmed into a telephone's speed dial system is helpful, but always include a back-up solution in case of an urgent need. It's easy to forget which number is assigned to a particular speed dial code when dealing with an unexpected emergency. That large-print list of emergency contact numbers saves time and insures your loved one is connected to help right away.

Poison Control Centers

For poisoning emergencies there is a central phone number you can call for immediate advice. You can dial 1-800-222-1222 for the national assistance number, but did you know you can locate a Poison Center in your state? The American Association of Poison Control Centers has a directory and Poison Center finder that can show you the location and phone number of your closest center. Search by map or by directory, then add the closest Poison Control Center's phone number to your emergency contact numbers. Contacting a local center is especially helpful in cases involving localized poison problems resulting from animal and insect bites, or local plant life.You can save precious minutes by contacting the local experts on poisons unique to your area.

911 Tips

If you only have a cell phone, it's important to include a set of directions to your home on your list of emergency contact phone numbers. 911 operators can't always trace your exact location from a cell phone or digital phone. Giving them directions to your location including street address and any nearby landmarks helps emergency crews arrive quickly without having to guess when it comes to similarly named streets or rural roads. A list of directions to the home is especially important for babysitters, part-time caregivers or others who may also need to use a cell phone to dial 911 when you are out of the house.

Power Outages and Gas Leaks

Any list of important phone numbers should include emergency contact numbers for your local utility companies. Do you know the number for your gas company's trouble line in case you discover a gas leak? Add that number to your list, especially if you use a babysitter or caregiver when you are out of the home. It's also a good idea to add the electric company's trouble line to your list of important phone numbers. If a heavy storm knocks out your power or causes a power line to fall near the home, calling the emergency number can get the problem safely resolved sooner instead of later.

When calling these emergency phone numbers it's important to have exact details of the problem, especially where downed power lines or gas leaks are concerned. How long has the leak or downed line been a problem? What is the exact location? Be sure to let the utility company rep know if there is immediate danger.