File of Life

Have you ever been injured doing yardwork or while cleaning your house? Have you ever tripped over your own foot and come within an inch of hitting the corner of a table? Do you have any medical conditions that you would rather not speak about?

These are all reasons why you should keep a card called the "File of Life" with you. Keep one in your wallet, one on your refrigerator and one in your car. A File of Life is just a piece of paper kept in a small plastic holder. When an ambulance crew arrives on a scene, there is specific information they need to know before they can treat the patient properly. The emergency medical technicians need to know:

• What your name is;
• Who your health insurance carrier is;
• Where you live;
• Who to contact in case of an emergency;
• What medications you take;
• Your past medical history (i.e.  do you have diabetes?, ever had a stroke?)
• What allergies you have;
• and, your birthdate.

If you are unconscious, in shock, have just received a severe blow to the head, or are too "out of it" to speak correctly, then you will not be able to answer these questions. So, how would the EMT's get that information? By guessing? No. They can't go through your pockets, either.

A police officer may be able to, but EMS personnel are not allowed to do so. If the police officer is able to go through your pockets and all he/she finds is your wallet, then all the information the EMT's will have about you is your name, address and birthdate. They still would not be able to treat you. They need more information.

If you keep CD's in your car, then you more than likely have a CD visor-holder. Since you can not listen to 10 CD's at once, then use the front slip to hold your File of Life card. Keep it there until something changes in your medical history. You will remember it because you will see it almost every day.

Then there are your family members. You will want cards for them, as well. Especially if they have pre-existing conditions and/or on medication(s). For example, let's say that you are going to see a movie with your spouse and kids on the same night that the St. Jude's Italian Festival is running. It's a Friday night, just before dinner time. You know that since Main Street is partially closed that you will take Route 111.

It is a MESS! It is hot outside, there are cars lined up and down Route 111, you get angry and frustrated, but somebody gets even even angrier and more frustrated. That person decides to drive right up the middle of the road. Cars start ducking out of the way. You don't see this person because you and your spouse are now having an argument about why you decided to take this route out of town.

Your car gets hit head on. Your spouse is unconscious and so are your kids. You just banged the side of your head against the front windshield, and your head hurts so much that you are unable to think straight. How are you going to answer questions about yourself, your spouse and both of your kids? Wouldn't it make more sense to have it all of that medical information written down and easily accessible?

Your house is no different. When faced with a traumatic situation, it is rare when a person can remain calm enough to answer questions about a relative or loved one. Think about your spouse and kids. How do you think you would react if they were seriously injured? Do you think that you could detach yourself and remain stoic?

How about if you are a grandparent and the injured person was your grandchild? People host parties all of the time without any prior knowledge of the medical needs of the guests. My grandmother is diabetic. Thankfully, she knows enough to stay away from certain foods and to take her medication with her. However, children and teenagers are not as "bright."

Once they see a cake, they may want to jump right in. But a child may be diabetic and not know it. Then that child may end up in diabetic shock. Also, diabetes can come on at any age, none of us are "safe." But EMT's don't know anything about this child.

Then we have work. Does everyone at work know everyone else's medical conditions? Do they know your medical history? How many people work where you do? What percentage of them have medical problems that you know about?

Basically, tell someone at work about your medical history so that they will be of some assistance in case of an emergency. Keeping a File of Life card at your desk will mean that if you do have a medical emergency at work, then the EMT's who respond will not have to ask a series of questions of your fellow co-workers, employers or employees.

Simply put, get yourself a copy of the File of Life and make copies for everyone in your family and enough for your home, car and place of work. It will do nothing but help EMS. Ask your doctor for a copy.