File of Life makes pertinent medical information available to first responders during emergency calls. Image: YouTube screen capture
In an emergency, the more relevant, accurate information emergency services have the better.
A new service called File of Life is a partnership between the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force, Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department, and the Rothesay Hive.
Cpl. Eugene Belliveau said arriving first responders are alerted to a decal on the front door that a magnetic pouch will be on the fridge inside containing a patient’s medical history.
“Once the paramedics get through the front door then that person who got their first can say, ‘hey, the person on the ground and can’t speak, can’t communicate and here’s what I have for medications, here’s what the medication is.’ It just gives us a bit of a lead in getting that medical attention as quick as possible,” Belliveau said.
Belliveau said the idea for the program came about as an extension of the KRPF’s vulnerable person registry which has information about some residents with dementia and other ailments who could be seen wandering in the community.
After doing some research, he chose the File for Life program, similar to one already being used by the Moncton Fire Department.
Belliveau said the main focus for him was to get people medical attention as quickly as possible.
“A lot of times police get their first, we might be there five minutes before ambulance and fire … [A] person is not communicating on the floor. There is the File of Life. We know the first [medical] person to come through that door is going to get that information,” Belliveau said.
Belliveau said File of Life can also be useful for anyone with allergies or autism and patients who have a Do-Not-Resuscitate order.
The free File of Life kits can be picked up at the Rothesay Hive in the town hall at 70 Hampton Road.
File of Life is a free resource for all residents of the Kennebecasis Valley. This program benefits everyone as medical emergencies can happen at any time to anyone.
Learn more about the program, visit: https://t.co/1H8Yeg2KyA pic.twitter.com/kWFk3bziCk
— Rothesay (@Rothesay_NB) November 24, 2021
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