• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Balance & Dizziness Canada

Balance & Dizziness Canada

Supporting, inspiring and educating those affected by balance and dizziness disorders

Menu
  • Home
  • Join/Renew
  • Practitioners List
  • About
    • What We Do
    • History
    • Our Supporters
    • Testimonials
    • Our Team
    • Initiatives
    • Policies
    • Contact
    • Join
    • Donate
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Balance & Dizziness Canada

Balance & Dizziness Canada

Supporting, inspiring and educating those affected by balance and dizziness disorders

Home   Join/Renew   Practitioners List   About   Contact   Blog   Site Map   Donate

NAVIGATION
  • Balance System
  • Symptoms
  • Disorders
    • Close
    • Vestibular Disorders
      • Close
        • Acoustic Neuroma
        • Age-related Dizziness and Imbalance
        • Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED)
        • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
        • Bilateral Vestibulopathy
        • CANVAS Syndrome
        • Cervicogenic Dizziness
        • Childhood Dizziness and Imbalance
        • Cholesteatoma
        • Dizziness Imbalance after mTBI
        • Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct
        • Labyrinthine Infarction
        • Labyrinthitis
        • Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS)
        • Ménière’s Disease
        • Motion and Cyber Sickness
        • Otosclerosis
        • Perilymph Fistula
        • Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
        • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
        • Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops
        • Semicircular Canal Dehiscence
        • Vestibular Migraine
        • Vestibular Neuritis
        • Vestibular Paroxysmia
        • Vestibular Toxicity
        • Visually Induced Dizziness
      • Close
    • Multifactorial Causes
    • Other Causes
    • Imbalance without Dizziness
    • Statistics
    • Close
  • Diagnosis & Treatment
    • Close
      • Patient Journey
      • Working with Professionals
      • Primary Care Physicians
      • Other Health Professionals
      • Where to Get Tested
      • Diagnostic Tests
      • Vestibular Rehabilitation
      • Vestibular Rehab Video $10
      • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
      • Medication
      • Surgical Treatments
      • Alternative Treatments
      • Future Treatments
    • Close
  • Help Yourself
    • Close
      • Build Your Wellness Toolkit
      • Help Others Understand
      • Keep a Health Diary
      • Time Management
      • Relaxation Techniques
      • Physical Activity
      • Vestibular Rehab Video $10
      • Anxiety and Depression
      • Eat Well
      • Vision Challenges
      • Prevent Falls
      • Overcome Fear of Falling
      • At Home, Work & School
      • Out & About
      • Emergency Plans
      • Move From Survive to Thrive
    • Close
  • Stories
    • Close
    • Our Stories
    • Share Your Story
    • Books to Inspire
    • Famous Dizzy People
    • Close
  • Support
    • Close
    • Ask Us
    • FAQ
      • Close
      • Ask an Expert Form
      • Close
    • Patient Handouts
    • Our Videos
    • Blog Posts
    • Suggested Books
    • For Family and Friends
    • Community Resources
    • Legal Resources
    • Close
You are here: Home / Help Yourself / Emergency Plans

Emergency Plans

Emergency Plan

Do you worry about what might happen if you fall (again) or have a vertigo attack in public? Or who might look after your house if you have to be hospitalized? Or . . . the list goes on and on. Worrying about unpredictable future events can significantly increase anxiety levels and increase symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. The key is making short- and long-term plans to take care of your health, responsibilities, and property. These ideas are simply suggestions. Get creative using similar concepts.

Short-term plans:

  • Do not let medications run low.
  • If prone to nausea, carry a disposable "barf bag".
  • Have a container handy beside the bed in case of nausea.
  • Keep a good stock of healthy food for the times you cannot get out.
  • Have medications and bottled water available at your bedside.
  • Keep your phone handy – and charged!
  • Set up quick-dial numbers on your phone, including 911.
  • Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a medical alert card in your wallet to inform medical personnel of your condition.
  • Use a medical alert system – products available include pendants, wristbands, watches, and cell phones equipped with emergency buttons or apps. Some include GPS tracking and fall detection. Voice activated devices can also be helpful.
  • Carry a whistle – no one can yell for help for a long time.
  • Leave a spare key with a family member, neighbour, or nearby friend; alternatively, consider having a lockbox installed.
  • Ask a family member, neighbour, or friend to check in with you twice a day (by phone, email, or text). An elderly or disabled friend might appreciate this arrangement as it benefits both of you. Exchange emergency contact information.
  • Carry emergency contact information in your wallet so family can be alerted if you fall or have a vertigo attack while away from home.
  • List allergies and current medication along with your emergency contact information. Make entries on your calendar at least twice a year to remind you to keep this information up to date.
  • If you use an in-case-of-emergency (ICE) app on your cell phone, make sure the ICE number shows on the screen even when your phone is locked. It is best to carry contact information in your wallet even if you use an ICE app. 
  • Make arrangements for pet care. Keep detailed instructions posted on the fridge.

Long-term plans:

  • Post emergency response information on your fridge – this is where paramedics are trained to look. Consider using Manitoba’s Emergency Response Information Kit (ERIK) form [PDF] as a model for information to include.
  • Make sure family, friends, and co-workers know about your condition and concerns.
  • Create an advance care plan to ensure your medical treatment wishes are known and followed.
  • Make sure your family knows your wishes.
  • Create or update your will, representation agreement, and power of attorney.  A representation agreement is a document used either for supported or substituted decision-making regarding health and personal care matters.

These kinds of discussions can be upsetting to some people – nobody wants to admit their vulnerability and the possibility of having a serious health incident. However having firm and sensible plans in place can bring great peace of mind.

More resources

The following can offer more help and support for affected individuals and their families.

Advance Care Planning
An initiative of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association to provide information for Canadians in all provinces and territories about advance care planning.

Page updated August, 2019.

How can we improve this page? Expand

This form is for general feedback only. For personal inquiries, visit Ask an Expert.

Primary Sidebar

Become a Member
Donate Today
Practitioners List

Recent Blog Posts

  • New! Vestibular Neuritis Animation
  • FUNDRAISER: Unicycling for Balance & Dizziness Canada
  • New! Vestibular Migraine Animation
  • Helping Others Understand Your Dizziness and Imbalance
  • New! PPPD Animation

Help us to help you!

  • Become a Regular Member
  • Become a Professional Member
  • Please Donate Today!

Health Professional Directory

Please spread the word about our new Health Professionals Directory! Become a Professional Member.
Find a Health Practitioner

Upcoming Events!

Recent Blog Posts

  • New! Vestibular Neuritis Animation
  • FUNDRAISER: Unicycling for Balance & Dizziness Canada
  • New! Vestibular Migraine Animation
  • Helping Others Understand Your Dizziness and Imbalance
  • New! PPPD Animation

Blog Posts by Category

Blog Posts by Month

Menu
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Share Your Story
  • About
  • Contact
  • Who Can Treat You
  • Wellness Toolkit
  • Join or Renew
  • Donate
  • Buy Rehab Video (MP4) – only $10
  • Site Map
Return to Top of Page

Contact Information

Balance & Dizziness Canada
325-5525 West Boulevard
Vancouver, BC V6M 3W6
Voice Mail
BC Lower Mainland: 604-878-8383
Toll Free: 1-866-780-2233 (Canada only)
Email: info@balanceanddizziness.org
Become a Member
Donate Today
Practitioners List

© 2023 Canadian Balance and Dizziness Disorders Society • Charitable Reg. #883457327RR0001 • Credits & Disclaimers • Privacy Policy

Scroll Up