One of my daughters sent me an announcement of a program in
her community where first responders assist residents in completing a health
form. The EMS, police and firefighters
know where to look in the home for medical and health related information—in the
refrigerator. The File for Life is a
place to list prescription medications, doctors’ names, allergies and names of
people to be notified in the event of a medical emergency. The form is put in a plastic sleeve and the
recipient is instructed to place it in the refrigerator.
I’ve mentioned this idea in the past. The titles of the forms can change; the
intent doesn’t. First responders need to
know basic health status in order to convey necessary information to the
hospital/ physician. Since most people
have a refrigerator, it makes sense to store this vital information there.
Back in 2015, a pharmacist in a suburb of Pittsburgh created
a Vial for Life. He came up with a pill
bottle that would store the forms with the necessary information. Working with the EMS department in his
community, he distributed these containers and instructed people to keep them
in the fridge.
Even if you don’t have an “official” container or form, jot
down your meds, your allergies, the names of your doctors and put the paper in
a plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator.
Tell your friends and family to create their own storage system for the
fridge. Or call your local emergency
services department and learn what they need to better help you in a critical time.
