What should every Canary Island expat leave in an emergency folder?

What To Do — Step by Step

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   Add a “Start Here” page The first page should explain what the folder is and how it should be used. Include: Your full legal name Your usual name Date of birth Home address Municipality Island Telephone number Preferred language The date the folder was last reviewed The name of the person who should read it first A short instruction explaining what to do For example: This is my emergency information folder. If I am seriously ill, admitted to hospital or unable to manage my affairs, please begin with the First 24 Hours page and contact the people listed below.

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   Create a First 24 Hours page This page should list the immediate actions that may be needed. Include instructions to: Contact your main emergency person. Confirm which hospital or medical centre you are in. Check whether your partner or another person at home needs support. Enter the property if necessary. Care for pets. Find your medical information. Contact your insurer if private treatment is involved. Secure the home. Collect essential personal items. Tell close family members what has happened. Check whether urgent bills, appointments or travel arrangements need attention. In Spain and throughout the Canary Islands, 112 is the emergency number for ambulance, police and fire services. It is free to call.

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   Add your emergency contacts Local emergency contacts Include: Partner or spouse Trusted neighbour Friend living nearby Keyholder Pet carer Landlord or property manager Community president or administrator Local doctor Pharmacy Gestor Lawyer Insurance assistance provider Family contacts abroad Include: Next of kin Adult children Siblings Executor Attorney Anyone who may need to travel For each person, record: Full name Relationship to you Telephone number with country code Email address Language spoken Whether they have a key Whether they can make decisions or are only an emergency contact What you would like them to do

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   Include an emergency medical summary Your folder should contain a one-page medical summary showing: Main medical conditions Current medication Medication doses Serious allergies Previous serious reactions Blood-thinning medication Implanted medical devices Mobility needs Communication difficulties Preferred language Name of your health centre Name of your doctor Tarjeta Sanitaria details Private health insurance details Emergency assistance number Keep recent hospital or consultant reports in a supporting section.

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   Add identification and residency information Keep copies of the documents relevant to your life in Spain. These may include: Passport identification page TIE card NIE certificate Residency certificate Empadronamiento certificate Tarjeta Sanitaria S1 registration information Private medical insurance card Driving licence Marriage or civil partnership certificate Birth certificate Evidence of any previous names National Insurance number Spanish Social Security number The UK Government’s official Living in Spain guidance covers residency, healthcare, driving, tax, pensions, later-life planning and documents for British citizens living in Spain.

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   Explain how to access your home An emergency folder is of limited help if nobody can enter your property. Record: Full address Urbanisation or complex name House or apartment number Floor Municipality Island Nearby landmark Gate or entrance instructions Alarm information Key-safe location Who holds spare keys Whether there are security bars or internal locks How to contact the community administrator Any difficult access issues for an ambulance Whether pets may be loose inside You may also include a printed map or location pin, particularly if the property is difficult to find. The official 112 Canarias app can send the user’s GPS location when location permissions are enabled. It also has a non-voice option using icons and text chat for people who cannot speak during an emergency

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   Include a home information sheet Record the practical details someone may need if you cannot return home. Include: Electricity provider Water provider Gas supplier, where relevant Internet and telephone provider Home insurer Landlord or letting agent Community administrator Alarm company Location of the fuse box Main water shut-off Gas shut-off Spare keys Emergency repair contact Pool or garden maintenance contact Cleaner or regular home help Any expected deliveries or appointments This section should explain what needs attention, not overwhelm someone with every detail of household life.

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   Add pet-care instructions Pets can easily be overlooked when an owner is suddenly admitted to hospital. For each pet, record: Name Species and breed Photograph Microchip number Vet Medication Feeding instructions Walking routine Behaviour or fears Location of food, leads and carriers Who can enter the property Preferred temporary carer Long-term care wishes Pet insurance details Pet passport location Also include a simple notice near the folder stating how many animals are in the property.

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   List regular bills and essential payments Create a straightforward list of financial commitments that may need attention if you are ill for several weeks. Include: Rent or mortgage Community fees Electricity Water Internet Telephone Insurance Vehicle payments Tax payment plans Loan or credit commitments Home-care services Pet expenses Regular subscriptions that may need pausing For each payment, record: Provider Approximate amount Usual payment date Whether it is paid automatically Which account it comes from Where the contract or statement is stored Who should be contacted if there is a problem

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    Create an account and asset locator Your family does not necessarily need balances or private financial details in an emergency folder. They do need to know where accounts exist. List the organisations holding your important accounts, such as: Spanish banks UK banks Savings providers Pension providers Investment companies Credit-card companies Mortgage providers Insurance companies Utility providers Tax advisers Accountants Business accounts Digital payment services Record: Name of the organisation Type of account Country Last four digits or a safe reference Name of any joint holder Where statements are kept Who should be contacted Whether formal authority exists

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    Record your important legal arrangements Your folder should say whether the following documents exist and where the originals are held: Spanish will UK will Power of attorney Spanish power of attorney Advance healthcare instructions Manifestación Anticipada de Voluntad Funeral wishes Property deeds Rental agreement Marriage certificate Divorce documentation Insurance policies Trust documents Business agreements For each document, record: Date Country Name of the professional who prepared it Where the original is stored Who has a copy Who should be contacted

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    Explain who can act for you Create a page headed: Who is authorised to help me? Record: Your main emergency contact Any attorney appointed in the UK Any person appointed through a Spanish power of attorney Healthcare representative Executor Joint account holder Business partner Trusted person with access to your Legacy Vault Kit People who should be informed but do not have decision-making authority Do not describe someone as legally authorised unless the appropriate documentation is actually in place.

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    Add arrangements for family travelling from abroad Family members may need practical information before coming to the Canary Islands. Include: Your nearest airport Preferred airline routes Ferry information where relevant Your full address Directions from the airport Local taxi contact Nearby accommodation Who can meet them Who has keys Hospital information Where important documents are kept Your passport and TIE location Travel-insurance details Who can care for their home or children while they travel Also include one local person whom the family can contact before booking a journey.

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    Prepare for treatment on another island Some people living in the Canaries may need tests, specialist care or treatment away from their home island. Record: Who could accompany you Who should contact your family What mobility equipment you need Who would manage the home Who would look after pets Where a small hospital bag is kept Private transport or repatriation cover Your preferred emergency contact Any regular treatment that must continue Important medical documents to take

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    Include a digital information guide Many important records now exist only online. List the services you use, such as: Email Online banking Utility accounts Insurance portals miSCS or miHistoria Cl@ve Digital certificate Pension accounts Cloud storage Social media Online subscriptions Your Legacy Vault Kit For each service, explain: What it is used for Which email address is linked to it Where secure access instructions are held Who should contact the provider Whether a trusted person has authorised access

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    Add consular and professional contacts British nationals may wish to include: British Embassy or consular-support details Spanish lawyer UK solicitor Gestor Accountant Translator Funeral director Insurance assistance service Repatriation provider The UK Government provides 24-hour consular contact arrangements for British nationals who need urgent help abroad. The latest contact route should be checked on the official government website rather than relying on an old saved telephone number.

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    Prepare for a wider island emergency Your household plan should also cover situations such as: Wildfire Flooding Severe weather Calima Extended power or water failure Evacuation Road closure Communications failure Record: Where you would go Who you would contact How pets would travel Medication that must be taken Mobility assistance needed Who needs help nearby Where your grab-and-go bag is kept The Canary Islands uses the ES-Alert system to send urgent civil-protection instructions to mobile phones in affected areas when authorities need the public to take protective action.

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    Store the folder safely and tell someone about it A useful arrangement is: One clearly labelled paper folder at home One secure digital version One emergency summary with a trusted local person One secure copy accessible to your chosen family member Copies of key pages in your hospital or evacuation bag Fuller information stored in your Legacy Vault Kit Tell your trusted people: That the folder exists Where it is Which section they should read first What they are authorised to do Who else should be contacted

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    Review it every six months Check: Contact details Medication Insurance Residency documents Account providers Bills Keyholders Pet arrangements Legal documents Property information Digital services Travel details Write the review date on the front page. Remove old information or mark it clearly as replaced.