If emergency personnel were called to your home today, how quickly would they be able to notify your loved ones if you needed them? Would they know what medicine you were taking in order to avoid dangerous drug interaction with life saving treatment? If your child or spouse were experiencing a medical crisis, would you be able to locate this information quickly? If you experienced an emergency outside of your home, do you carry critical medical and/or contact information with you?
What is the “File of Life”?
To help protect area seniors and to help the EMT (Emergency Medical Team) who treat them, United Way of Illinois Valley introduced a new program called the File of Life in 2006. Through the program you receive a mini- medical history which can be posted on the outside of one’s refrigerator and/or personally carried in a wallet or purse. The File of Life card enables medics to obtain a quick medical history when the patient is unable to provide one. The File of Life card lists the patient’s name, emergency medical contacts, important insurance and Medicare number, health problems, medications, doctor’s name and health care proxy. Since its introduction on the west coast, the File of Life program has become an invaluable resource to emergency medical teams responding to life-threatening situations. EMT’s are alerted to the packet by a reflective decal posted to the patient’s primary access door.
Who sponsors the “File of Life” program?
Locally, the program is brought to you through the generous sponsorship of United Way of Illinois Valley, Illinois Valley Community Hospital, AmerenIP, and OSF Health Care Systems. These businesses provided grants to help underwrite our initial costs. Their financial support will help keep the cost of the program affordable for area seniors.
Who is eligible for the “File of Life”?
Although this program is targeted for the senior population, it is also available for any individual that would like to have immediate access to this information in times of crisis. The cost of each unit is approximately $5.00, a small investment considering the impact of saving a life. Anyone who would like to order File of Life units for family members may do so by calling the United Way office at 815-223-8339.
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