POWR Blog

What Information Should Be on an Emergency Contact Form?

Written by Mick Essex | Apr 8, 2024 10:20:12 PM

An emergency contact form is a crucial tool used everywhere from offices to schools and daycare centers. It helps handle urgent situations smoothly. Let's learn how to create one for your needs.

I have many years of experience in healthcare and insurance, and one important thing we always made sure of was to keep updated emergency contact forms for everyone.

It's important to be prepared for any unexpected events! So I will not only help you quickly learn how to be ready for emergencies, but I will also detail how to make an emergency contact form for free.

Shortcuts:

What is an Emergency Contact Form?

An emergency contact form is a document that gathers essential contact details for individuals to be reached in case of emergencies. This form typically includes names, phone numbers, and the relationship of the contacts to the person.

An emergency contact information form is vital when someone needs quick medical help or when important decisions need to be made about someone's responsibilities.

How to Make an Effective Emergency Contact Form

  1. Start by creating an emergency contact form for free.
  2. Choose a template style that fits your brand.
  3. Add the form fields that are important for your business or institution (like name, phone number, medical details, etc.).
  4. Set how you want to be notified when the form is filled out.
  5. Connect the form to apps like Google Sheets or Mailchimp, or print it out.
  6. Decide how to share your form online.

You can set up your form easily without needing to know how to code or hiring someone. You can even put it on your website by yourself quickly! For more help, check our Help Center.

Types of Emergency Contact Forms

  • For your students
  • For your employees
  • For a daycare

While I'll focus on these three, the same steps apply to most other situations.

Student Emergency Contact Form

A student emergency contact form collects crucial info to keep them safe during school emergencies. 

Student Emergency Contact Form - Essential Elements

  • Parent or guardian’s names, phone numbers, emails, and maybe social media
  • Doctor’s name and contact info
  • If needed, legal representative’s contact details
  • Signature and date

Schools can react quickly and communicate well in emergencies with student emergency contact forms. Always give a copy to the parent or guardian and the student.

Download a free printable emergency contact form 

Employee Emergency Contact Form

It's vital for workplace safety to have updated employee emergency contact forms.

Employee Emergency Contact Form - Essential Elements

  • Primary and secondary contact names and how to reach them
  • Any allergies, health conditions, and details about their doctor and preferred medical facilities
  • Signature and date

An emergency contact form for employees helps protect them and you when emergencies happen on the job. Always give a copy to the employee.

Download a free printable emergency contact form 

Daycare Emergency Contact Form

An emergency contact form for daycare is essential for quickly handling any urgent situations concerning our most precious resource -- our children. 

Daycare Emergency Contact Form - Essential Elements

    • Parent or guardian’s full names, how they are related to the child, and their contact info
    • Pediatrician’s name and number for emergencies
    • Names and contacts of authorized people who can pick up the child
    • Signature and date

An emergency form for daycare will ensure caregivers can quickly get the information they need in case of emergencies. Always give a copy to the parent or guardian.

Download a free printable emergency contact form 

Conclusion

Emergency contact forms are an important part of your safety plans. Regularly updating your emergency contact form ensures that you are always prepared for any unexpected situation and allows you to act quickly and correctly in emergencies.

These forms, which can be integrated into employee portal software, help protect both the employee and the company when emergencies happen.

By keeping these forms up-to-date and detailed, you can be well-prepared for any crisis that may befall those that you care about the most.

FAQs

1. Do I need an emergency contact form for my business?

Yes, if you own a business with employees, you want to maintain emergency contact records.

In 2021, there were 139.8 million visits to emergency rooms in the US, and 40 million of these were because of injuries. For companies, an emergency contact form is a key part of keeping everyone safe and managing risks.

Emergency contact forms will make sure you can quickly contact a family member or caregiver who can make urgent decisions and help manage emergencies better, whether they are medical problems, natural disasters, or other critical situations.

2. What information should be included in an emergency contact form?

An emergency contact form should include the individual's full name, phone number, email, relationship to the emergency contact, and any critical medical information like allergies or chronic conditions.

3. How often should an emergency contact form be updated?

It's recommended to update emergency contact forms annually or whenever there is a significant life change, such as a new job, address, or change in emergency contacts.

4. Is it necessary to have an emergency contact form for remote employees?

Yes, even remote employees should have an emergency contact form on file to ensure that their safety and well-being can be managed in case of an emergency.

5. What are the legal considerations for storing emergency contact forms?

Emergency contact forms should be stored securely to protect personal information. Ensure that you comply with privacy laws such as GDPR or HIPAA, depending on your location and the nature of the information collected.

Author Bio

Hey, it's Mick and I'm the Head of Growth and Partnerships at POWR. My career spans two decades, primarily marketing in the healthcare space, with stints in broadcast television, advertising and copy editing. 

I went to the College of Journalism at the University of Louisiana - Monroe and a storyteller at my core. My wife Elizabeth, son Gavin, and pup Jolene currently call Lafayette, Louisiana home.

Follow me on LinkedIn.