File of Life
According to File of Life, 58 percent of emergency calls in the United States are on behalf of senior citizens.
A Detroit Free Press article found on the Royal Oak, Michigan fire department’s website, states that when emergency workers respond to emergency calls on behalf of senior citizens, the seniors “‘forget to tell us important information – - surgeries, allergies,’ said Marrs, a firefighter/paramedic for West Bloomfield [Michigan]. ‘They panic. Or maybe they can’t talk. So we have to go through medicine cabinets and refrigerators looking for clues as to what kind of medical problems they many have.”
The official website for the city of Fairfax, Virginia explains that the File of Life contains, “a program door decal, a File of Life Information Card and a vinyl cardholder for placement on your refrigerator door.
The File of Life information card has areas to record personal information concerning medical conditions, drug allergies, emergency contact numbers for friends and family members, doctors information, prescription information and any special circumstances rescue personnel should know.”
Marrs told the Detroit Fress Press, “This file of Life tells us everything we need to know so we can concentrate on patient care rather than asking 100 different questions.”
Many police and fire departments across the country are offering these packets free of charge. Please contact your local police and/or fire department to see if they are providing them to seniors in your community.
However, if your community is not providing these packets free of charge, the city of Chesapeak, Virginia provides visitors to their site with a black and white pdf for you to print, complete and post until you are able to find a magnetic one branded in bright red for your refrigerator.
Note: Linda Lynch, a recent visitor to Senior Help Forum, suggested the topic of this post.
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