Start your emergency binder with one page that another trusted adult can use. Add private records in separate sections as you gather them. You can use a folder, a ring binder, or a printed manual.
Begin with the first page
Write your household address, emergency number, two household contacts, a backup contact, and meeting places. In the United States, call 911 for an immediate emergency. For other locations, record the applicable emergency number.
Use the printable one-page emergency sheet or copy the fields onto paper. Keep the details that a helper needs close to the front.
Add the sections your household needs
- People and contacts: household members, caregivers, school or care contacts, and a trusted out-of-area contact.
- Health records: current medication and allergy records, clinician and pharmacy contacts, and the location of any clinician-provided action plan. Check the records with the person responsible for them.
- Communication and meeting places: who will contact whom, where you will meet, and an alternative if the first place cannot be reached safely.
- Home instructions: locations of the flashlight and first-aid kit, utility contact numbers, and equipment instructions appropriate for the intended reader.
- Evacuation information: official local alert sources, transport arrangements, and the details needed for children, pets, or mobility needs.
- Document index: where identification, insurance, property, and other important records are stored. Include an insurer's claims contact if relevant.
- Access and recovery: who is authorized to help with accounts and where secure recovery instructions are held.
- Review record: who checked each section and when.
Example: a useful first page
The following details are fictional:
- Household: Rivera household, 100 Example Lane, Sampletown.
- First contact: Alex Rivera, 202-555-0142.
- Backup contact: Morgan Lee, 202-555-0168.
- Meeting place near home: the agreed safe place outside the building.
- If the area is unsafe: contact Morgan to confirm a safe alternative.
- Flashlight: labelled drawer beside the entry door.
- Last checked: September 10, 2026, by Alex.
Replace every example with verified household information. Show the completed page to the people who will use it.
Separate shared information from private records
A caregiver may need phone numbers and instructions. They may not need identification copies, benefit records, or account information. Give each person only the pages needed for their role.
Keep sensitive records in secure storage. Record their location in the binder where appropriate. Keep passwords and account recovery codes separate from a page displayed in the kitchen or shared with visitors. Consider who could access a PDF on a shared device.
Check whether someone can use it
Ask a trusted adult to find the backup contact, meeting place, and flashlight location. Correct unclear labels. Print a sample at the size you plan to use and check the text and writing space.
Update the affected page after a move, contact change, or change to household needs. Choose a recurring review date that your household can keep.
Choose how to finish
You can complete the binder yourself with the checklist above. If you want a guided process, see Hardcopy's sample pages. The plan comparison explains the PDF and printed options and their prices. You will still need to supply accurate details and check the finished manual.