I don't have an emergency contact - what should I do?
Whether you’re signing on for a new job, have a child at school, or going to the hospital, there are crucial moments when you’ll be asked to provide an emergency contact. But what happens when you have no one to call on?
When nominating an emergency contact, a partner or family member might seem an obvious choice - but what if no one comes to mind?
Gayle Chambers, president of over-50s advocacy organisation, Grey Power, understands people may feel embarrassed or ashamed about not having someone to call on in emergencies, but she says isolation and loneliness are a problem for New Zealand’s ageing and growing population.
It’s not just elderly people - international students, single parents or those without immediate family around may hit this issue.
Grey Power national president Gayle Chambers says there's no shame in asking for help.
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If you haven't got anybody, where do you start?
Chambers suggests joining social or hobby groups like an exercise class or a knitting circle. Think of those near you, she says, like a neighbour who can check in on you when you’re unwell.
Churches are commonplace and could be a starting point, even if you aren’t religious, she says.
Royal NZ College of GPs medical director Luke Bradford says it's very rare that a patient would be put on the spot to provide an emergency contact immediately. Often, doctors will suggest you bring a support person ahead of time if there’s some bad news after running tests in the lab.
For patients suffering from serious or chronic illnesses and older members of the community, there are support groups available who could point you in the right direction, both Chambers and Dr Bradford say.
Frog Recruitment managing director Shannon Barlow says employees can be honest about their circumstance and, although employers can’t always step in as emergency contacts, they may help you think through alternatives or support you in building your network.
Auckland University of Technology says international applicants often provide the contact details of friends, girlfriends or boyfriends, home-stay guardians, and agents.
Auckland Kindergarten Association, which has 107 kindergartens across the city, has parent and whānau groups to help caregivers and parents connect.
“Usually emergency contacts are other whānau, but sometimes a neighbour or another parent might [be] pre-approved to help out – for example if whānau are running late for pick up or need a sick child picked up,” says chief executive Pauline Winter.
What should I consider? When will they be called on?
Think about who it is that’s asking and consider what kind of person would be best suited for that situation, Dr Bradford says.
For work, Barlow says think of someone who is willing to be contacted on your behalf in a crisis.
Frog Recruitment managing director Shannon Barlow says employers can help their workers think of alternatives or support them to build their network.
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“They’re only used in serious situations — if someone has a medical emergency at work, is unreachable and there's concern for their wellbeing, or if urgent decisions need to be made. It’s about duty of care, it’s not about tracking or monitoring.”
Three key attributes she notes are trust, calmness, and reachability.
“Ideally, they’re contactable during the day and understand your basic personal circumstances. They don’t need to be a family member or even live nearby, but they should be someone who could speak on your behalf in an emergency.
“You can list someone overseas, but it’s smart to think about time zones and have a local backup if possible.”
Chambers agrees trust is key – you need someone who is not going to act for their own benefit.
“It's really very much like when you're going down the enduring power of attorney checklist.”
It’s entirely up to a patient whether they want their emergency contact to know about their condition, Dr Bradford says. They do need to let the practitioner know their wishes though.
Dr Luke Bradford says be honest with you GP if you don't have anyone to put in as an emergency contact, or don't want them to be notified of your health condition.
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Situations where an emergency contact would be called on to make decisions on behalf of someone are exceptional, and there are ethical considerations in those cases, he says.
For most cases, they would be the next-of-kin to be notified if, for example, if something was to go wrong in an operation you were undergoing, he says.
He notes it should still be someone you feel comfortable with, and that could be someone you rely on for emotional support rather than say someone who drives you to the hospital or fills your forms.
How do I ask someone to be my emergency contact?
Never be afraid to ask for help, Chambers says. People are usually more than willing to help.
“There's no shame. If you are alone and you need someone to help you, unless you tell someone they don't know."
If you have noticed a parent at your child’s school or a neighbour who appears to be alone, take it as an opportunity to see if they need help, she says.
