Having a comprehensive understanding of your condition - or that of your child with hemophilia - is a first step to empowering yourself to manage your own healthcare. It might be helpful to keep your individual hemophiliac facts straight by knowing your diagnosis details, such as:

• What is your factor deficiency and what does it mean?
  
• What brand of factor do you take and what is the dosage?
  
• Do you have an inhibitor and what does that mean?

Beyond your diagnosis, be ready to share medical history details with your healthcare providers, such as:

• Do you have any drug or food allergies?
  
• What is your family history?
  
• What is your personal history of significant bleeds and target joint issues?

• To plan ahead for an emergency, keep the phone number of your HTC and contact names handy, and wear an alert device, such as a Medic Alert card, bracelet or pendant.
• Medic Alert now offers an E-Health Key that attaches to your key ring and has access to your health records at any time, from anywhere.
• For more on emergency preparedness, here are 7 Tips for a Successful ER Visit .