Vial of Life
I consider myself pretty savvy and informed about aging and senior health issues. So, last weekend when I attended the Alzheimer’s Association 2012 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Dallas, TX. I was surprised to learn about a simple, practical, in home health idea that has been out for at least three years. I don’t know how I missed it.
Before the walk began I strolled amongst the tables of sponsors who had helped to make the walk such a success. Professional Caretakers, Inc., a professional home health care agency in Texas, was distributing a pretty blue bottle labeled the Vial of Life.
The Vial of Life is a way to make your medical and health records available to family and emergency professionals should you have a medical emergency. I have done this for me and my husband by maintaining up-to-date records of our contact information, medical histories, prescriptions, allergies, and insurance information in a spreadsheet on my computer. I keep a printout in a folder by the front door.
The Vial of Life takes it a couple of steps further. It is a community-based program that provides lifesaving Information for Emergencies. The Vial contains a page that you can fill out with Primary Medical Conditions, Health Information, Current Medications, Previous Medical Conditions, and Emergency Contacts. In addition the Vial contains a refrigerator magnet. The paper work is placed inside the pretty blue bottle, which is then placed visibly in the refrigerator. Emergency workers are trained to look for a Vial of Life sticker or magnet either by the front door or on the refrigerator.
Providing your medical information to emergency personnel could save your life or the life of a family member.
I took two Vials home with me, placed my records in one and my husbands records in the other. The magnet is now on the refrigerator door and we have yet one more safety net in place. Some times the best things in life really are free.
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