Imagine you are hanging Christmas lights on the pergola in your backyard on a lazy Saturday when the old ladder you have been standing on suddenly collapses. Sadly, you fall and hit your head on the patio furniture and are rendered unconscious. A neighbor you rarely speak to quickly calls for help — but they only know your first name. They do not know any important medical information, family contacts, etc., to share with emergency responders. This is where having something known as the Vial of Life can help.

What is the Vial of Life? Well, it is a free program designed to give emergency personnel the information they need to care for you, contact loved ones, and potentially save your life in situations where you are not responsive enough to provide that information first-hand. 

Perhaps you were in a car wreck and suffered a head injury.

Maybe you went into a diabetic-related coma.

You could have been working with power tools at home and suffered an electrical shock.

The “vial,” in this case, is an ordinary plastic baggie on your refrigerator containing documents (even copies of your Living Will or Do Not Resuscitate paperwork, a photo of you, etc.) that can speak for you when you cannot. Interestingly, emergency medical personnel responding to an accident at someone’s house are trained to look for this information on the fridge if the victim is alone. Even if the injury is not too severe, many people in emergencies find it challenging to remember key information. 

Examples of what medical personnel might need to know include but are not limited to the following:

• What medicines you are taking
• Any illnesses or medical conditions you have
• If you are allergic to certain medications
• Your normal blood pressure
• The languages you speak
• If you wear hearing aids, glasses, dentures, etc.
• Health insurance information
• Special instructions 
• Family contact information

Having a Vial of Life in your home is easy, too. Simply fill out the form, put it on the refrigerator, and include a stick-on decal.

It is that simple.

Everyone Should Have a Vial of Life Form Filled Out!

No one expects to experience a life-threatening emergency. We wake up, go about our days, and expect events to proceed normally. But sometimes, the unexpected happens. Seniors are an enhanced risk because they are more likely to live alone, and their medical conditions and medications can change more frequently. When this is the case, the Vial of Life can make a world of difference.

At Leigh Hilton, PLLC, we give clients an emergency document card that provides emergency personnel with copies of their medical documents. The Vial of Life is an additional tool and can include a copy of that card.

Call Leigh Hilton, PLLC, Today!