Yellow Dot Viewed as Life-saving Measure by KY Responders

Police, fire and ambulance crews in the city and county respond to numerous calls every day -- for traffic collisions, medical emergencies and accidents such as falls. While responders are given some information about the incident by 911 dispatchers, the real cause of, say, an auto accident, is not always immediately obvious.

"We've stopped vehicles before on suspicion of DUI and (the driver was suffering) a diabetic emergency," said Officer Michael Hathaway, public information officer for the Owensboro Police Department. Often, a person with a medical emergency "can't communicate with us. They don't know where they are or who they are."

To provide more information to emergency responders at traffic accidents -- which will help responders provide better medical care to patients -- city agencies are participating in the "Yellow Dot" program. County responders are also part of the program, which is voluntary and lets people decide how much medical information they provide.

The program works like this: People pick up a Yellow Dot folder, which contains space for emergency contact information and a check list of health problems and allergies. The folder also contains a space for a photo.

The person fills out the information for themselves -- and separate folders for any children or people who ride regularly in the vehicle -- and places the folders in their vehicle's glove compartment.

A yellow dot sticker, which comes with the folder, is placed on the lower left corner of the driver's side window. A responder who sees the yellow dot sticker will know to grab the folder from the glove box.

It's a small folder and takes only a few minutes to prepare. But that information will make a big difference to emergency crews who are trying to provide help.

"When you're trying to assess injuries, you want a medical history," said OFD Chief Steve Mitchell. Having a person's medical history in their glove compartment "will really help out with treatment," he said.

Knowing if a person is diabetic, or has high blood pressure or heart problems, can greatly alter the way responders at a traffic accident provide treatment, Mitchell said.

"Any kind of treatment could make a pre-existing condition worse" if responders don't know the patient has other medical issues, Mitchell said. "If we already have that information, it helps us treat them faster, (because) we know what's going on."

In Owensboro, people can pick up a free Yellow Dot folder at OPD, at City Hall, Yellow Ambulance and at Owensboro Fire Department's Station One at Ninth and Locust streets. County agencies like the fire departments will also have the Yellow Dot folders.

"Not only will it help EMTs and paramedics, it will help the doctors and the emergency room as well," when responders bring the Yellow Dot folders to the hospital, Mitchell said.

James Mayse, 270-691-7303, [email protected], Twitter: @JamesMayse

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