Be Prepared With a Heart Emergency Card

If your parent is at high risk for a heart attack, advance planning may give you both peace of mind. On an index card, list the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and instructions for using nitroglycerin or other medication, if appropriate. On the other side, jot down emergency phone numbers and the location of the nearest hospital that offers 24-hour emergency care. Laminate duplicates of this card, so your parent and caregivers can carry one with them, and place a copy by each phone in your parent's home.