Family Emergency Binder: Grab Everything in One Go

A trip to the ER, a storm warning, an evacuation. Emergencies don't wait while you search for insurance cards and medication lists. A family emergency binder keeps your IDs, insurance, medical information and contacts together, ready to grab.

What is a family emergency binder?

A family emergency binder (also called a life binder, household binder or in case of emergency binder) holds the documents and information you'd need fast if something went wrong: at the hospital, after a fire or flood, or during an evacuation. Instead of papers scattered across drawers and folders, everything is in one place everyone knows about.

Emergency binder checklist

Identity

• Birth certificates
• Social Security cards
• Passports
• Marriage certificate

Medical

• Medication list for each person
• Doctors, pharmacy and allergies
• Health insurance cards
• Healthcare directive

Insurance and money

• Home or renters policy
• Auto and life insurance
• Bank account information
• Recent tax return

Home

• House deed or lease
• Car titles and registration
• Photos of your belongings for claims

Contacts

• Family and neighbors
• Doctors and insurance agents
• Utilities

For the kids

• School and pediatrician contacts
• Immunization records

Make it grab and go

1. Keep it in one spot everyone knows, close to an exit if you live where fires, floods or hurricanes happen.
2. Protect it from fire and water with the FireGuard Pro bag.
3. Fill in the emergency contact sheet at the front.
4. Review it twice a year, for example when you change your clocks.

Questions

What is the difference between an emergency binder and a go bag?

A go bag holds supplies like water, food and medicine. An emergency binder holds your documents and information. Keep them together so you can grab both.

Is the LifeTrove fireproof?

The LifeTrove itself is not fireproof. For fire and water protection, keep it inside the FireGuard Pro fireproof bag.

Do the pockets come labeled?

No. You get 66 labels, 33 printed and 33 blank, and you choose the ones that fit your papers and stick them on yourself.

Should each person have their own binder?

One LifeTrove works best for one person or a couple. For a bigger family, a second book for grandparents or grown children keeps everyone's papers easy to find.

How often should I update it?

Twice a year, and after any change like a new insurance card, a new medication or a move.