File of Life belongs on seniors’ refrigerators

Being organized is a beautiful thing, not that I would know this personally. And while organization can make life easier (I hear), it can also be life-saving.

Imagine this: A woman is found unresponsive on the living room floor. Emergency crews arrive but her neighbors don’t know her well, so they can’t answer questions regarding her age, doctor’s name, medical history or current prescriptions.

No family contact information can be found. Paramedics do the best they can to treat her, but their hands are tied somewhat for lack of information.

This doesn’t have to happen. Precious time doesn’t have to be wasted while paramedics try to gather information in order to best treat their patient. Help can be as close as the refrigerator door, thanks to the Penobscot County Area TRIAD.

TRIAD – an organization of law enforcement, social service agencies and senior citizens – works diligently to serve and protect seniors. One of the projects on TRIAD’s agenda is the File of Life, a 4-inch by 3-inch red plastic pocket which contains a senior’s pertinent medical information. This includes medications and doses, doctors’ names, emergency contacts and medical conditions. The pocket is held in place on the fridge by a magnetic strip.

Also included is a red “File of Life” sticker that, when put at eye level on the front door of the senior’s residence, will alert EMTs to go directly to the refrigerator. There they will find all the information needed in order to administer proper treatment.

While no one can deny the positive impact of the File of Life on a senior’s health, even the best ideas need financial backing.

Funding for the File of Life was hard to come by, said Peggy Brown, service coordinator for the Bangor Brewer Housing Authority and TRIAD member.

“No one had time to really fund-raise, and I was applying for a grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation for some phone cards and taxi vouchers for our residents,” Brown said.

“I added the File of Life to the grant application, and fortunately we got funded. They are wonderful people.” The Kings really care about the community, she added.

Charlie Sias, TRIAD member, is grateful to the foundation, as well, for funding this project. The File of Life is near and dear to his heart.

“I think it’s just tragic when seniors don’t get the care they need because of a lack of information among the medical personnel sent to help,” said Sias. “Also, a small File of Life card is included to be kept in a purse or wallet in case an emergency occurs outside the home. Every senior should have a File of Life.”

Cheri Volta, paramedic with Capital Ambulance, agrees.

“The Files are great because all the information I need is right there,” she said.

“For instance, if a patient has had a stroke and can’t answer my questions or if the person is in pain, they don’t want me asking questions – they just want me to stop their pain. The File really streamlines patient care because I can focus on the patient without asking a lot of questions. I have even taken the File off the refrigerator before and taken it to the hospital with the patient.”

While the File of Life is worth its weight in gold, you can get one free at Eastern Agency on Aging.

“The File of Life speaks for you when you can’t speak for yourself, and I’d like to see one on every senior’s refrigerator,” said Sias.

“Charlie and I worked hard to get [the File of Life] going,” said Brown. “He really is the best – that little grin he gives you. I love it.”

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.