Rotary Club of Runaway Bay

P O Box 8, Runaway Bay, Queensland, Australia

Since its conception in 1998, by a paramedic from the Modbury division of the South Australian Ambulance Service, the Emergency Medical Information Book (EMIB) has come a long way. Originally it was created with the Rotary Club of Tea Tree Gully Club in South Australia. The pilot project was officially launched by South Australian Governor, Dame Roma Mitchell on the 24th May 1999.

How it works

When paramedics called, a typical scenario is distraught family members may be unable to give correct details of the patient’s condition, or the medication they are currently using. In the event of a medical emergency with an ambulance called, paramedics need to know about a patient’s medical history. Do they suffer from a medical problem or are they allergic to any proscription drugs. If there is no one who can answer these questions, delays in treatment may not help to stabilize the condition of the patient during transport. The paramedics physically have to collect all the patients’ medication in the house, try to obtain a medical history to take to the hospital with the patient. This small book contains patient contacts, service or carer provider information, medications and any medical condition, so a paramedic is able to treat and ready a patient for transport to a hospital.

The Emergency Medical Information Book in the Gold Coast area is a joint project in with the Queensland Ambulance Service and Rotary Club of Runaway Bay. An example of State Government and Rotary working cooperatively together for the benefit of local Queenslanders. From the introduction of the Emergency Medical Information Book in the Runaway Bay area, the Rotary Club of Runaway Bay have distributed some 2,000 EMIB to local residents. 

The Emergency Medical Information Book contains many details, which include; Patient Information, Emergency contact details, Next of Kin, Details of Medications currently taken,  Specific Medical Conditions, History of Medical Problems, Contact details of GP, Medicare number, Health Fund details, When paramedics have access to this information they can start treatment of a patient sooner, which is a comforting thought for all of us.

Who should have one of these books?

All people, adults and children who ‘take medications or have a medical condition’ should have a book, especially elderly people living on their own.  Each book has a clear plastic sleeve with strip magnets and is placed on the fridge door once it has been filled out by the owner (patient) together with their doctor As an example, the Rotary Club of Runaway Bay have distributed books to Doctors, Clinics, Retirement Villages, Chemists etc or anywhere the EMIB may be provided to people by a non-obligatory donation of a gold coin donation. The target group are those persons who may have the need of the Queensland Ambulance Services in the near future, or live alone.  This year the Emergency Medical Information Book is accepted in every state of Australia. So far there are just over 300,000 books distributed to the Australian community

Copies of the EMIB booklet are available at the following locations

Like to obtain an EMIB? just a cost of a gold coin, call Ken 04 1875 2699 or 07 5577 1371, or email from here  XXXXXXXXXb