The state announced two voluntary programs aimed at saving lives in emergency situations. The added bonus is that they are free.
The more visible of the two is the yellow dot program. Advocates hope you will soon see the yellow dot appearing on the rear windows of vehicles across the state.
Emergency responders need to quickly find critical information in an emergency situation. However, too often it is not available.
"They don't know if they have a heart condition,” explained Governor Corbett referring to emergency responders. “They don't know if they have high blood pressure. They don't know if they have allergies to certain medications."
"As many as one-in-five Americans over the age of 45 have some sort of chronic medical conditions,” Corbett continued. “That number jumps to one-in-three over age 65."
Placing the yellow sticker on your vehicle's rear window is the first step. As important is completing a survey that comes with the sticker.
On it, the operator can list two emergency contacts, hospital preference, medical conditions and recent surgeries, allergies, medications and the contact information for a physician.
It is placed in a yellow folder that goes in the vehicle's glove compartment. When responders see the yellow dot, they'll know to look for the paperwork in the car.
While the yellow dot program is used only in vehicles crashes, the emergency contact information program is usable for other emergencies.
Pennsylvanians with a driver's license or a PennDOT issued ID can log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. That information is available only to law enforcement officers.
Information on both programs is available at area Agency on Aging offices, PennDOT licensing centers and county health centers.
The hope is that participants never have to use the program. But the tools are available to help when they're in dire need.
The more visible of the two is the yellow dot program. Advocates hope you will soon see the yellow dot appearing on the rear windows of vehicles across the state.
Emergency responders need to quickly find critical information in an emergency situation. However, too often it is not available.
"They don't know if they have a heart condition,” explained Governor Corbett referring to emergency responders. “They don't know if they have high blood pressure. They don't know if they have allergies to certain medications."
"As many as one-in-five Americans over the age of 45 have some sort of chronic medical conditions,” Corbett continued. “That number jumps to one-in-three over age 65."
Placing the yellow sticker on your vehicle's rear window is the first step. As important is completing a survey that comes with the sticker.
On it, the operator can list two emergency contacts, hospital preference, medical conditions and recent surgeries, allergies, medications and the contact information for a physician.
It is placed in a yellow folder that goes in the vehicle's glove compartment. When responders see the yellow dot, they'll know to look for the paperwork in the car.
While the yellow dot program is used only in vehicles crashes, the emergency contact information program is usable for other emergencies.
Pennsylvanians with a driver's license or a PennDOT issued ID can log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. That information is available only to law enforcement officers.
Information on both programs is available at area Agency on Aging offices, PennDOT licensing centers and county health centers.
The hope is that participants never have to use the program. But the tools are available to help when they're in dire need.