By Paul Burgarino
Inside Bay Area (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
MANTECA, Calif. — In an emergency, every moment counts.
In hopes of shaving precious seconds of response time, Manteca District Ambulance is in the initial stages of a simple program the company hopes will save lives. So simple, in fact, it doesnt involve any medication, just the vial that holds the pills.
The Vial of LIFE, or Lifesaving Information for Emergencies, is a program centered around placing vital medical information into a small plastic medicine container.
The vial is supposed to be left in a household refrigerator.
Basically, you just keep any pertinent medical history, friends and relatives to alert, even if emergency responders should let pets out in the backyard, said Kenny Hockett of the Manteca District Ambulance, which is issuing vial kits. The key is to leave it in a place in the refrigerator, like the top shelf, where first-responders can find it.
Those with special medical issues, such as heart conditions, prior stroke, seizures and breathing problems, are the major focus of the program, but everyone is encouraged to participate. Those with serious allergies are also urged to participate, so they dont receive medicine that could be potentially harmful.
The vial kits also contain a static window cling for people to put on windows facing their homes entrance -- letting first-responders know that the persons medical information is in their refrigerator.
Hockett was involved in starting the program about a year ago in Tuolumne County. He said the few instances where a person had a vial of information were extremely helpful.
Hoping to emulate that success in the Manteca-Lathrop area, the program officially launched a public awareness campaign at last weekends Manteca Pumpkin Fair. Hockett says he hopes to speak to other interested agencies and grow the program.
Vial of LIFE was originated by the American Geriatrics Society, and emulated by other agencies, Hockett said.
Vial of LIFE kits are available free at the main ambulance office headquarters, 245 E. Center St., or by asking ambulance personnel for a kit.