File of Life

Picture this... emergency medical personnel arrive at your home, only to find you alone and unconscious. They have few facts at their disposal. Do you have any existing conditions? Are you taking medications? Do you have any allergies? The EMTs frantically search through your medicine cabinet looking for clues, while precious seconds tick by.

The File of Life is a card that contains important medical information essential to those responding to an emergency situation. The large card slips into a bright red magnetized pocket for prominent display on your refrigerator, readily accessibility to EMTs. A smaller card, for carrying in your wallet or purse, can assist hospital emergency staff. The cards contain space for emergency contacts, doctors' names, medical conditions, medications, surgeries, allergies, medical insurance information, and notification of next of kin or designated contacts following an accident or emergency.

Other benefits of ICE can help with identification, and gaining details of the individual's medical history, including medical conditions, allergies, blood type, etc.

The Role of the Public

People who carry a mobile phone are being encouraged to prefix an existing contact in their phone's address book with the acronym ICE (In Case of Emergency).

The ICE contact should be someone who can be reached if an individual becomes sick or injured to such an extent that they are unable to communicate. The contact should be made fully aware that they have been designated as such.

The Role of the Responder

All personnel attending an individual who is sick or injured should try to seek ICE in any phone obviously belonging to a patient.

Limitations

The mobile phone system can work for all phone owners, but has limitations in some circumstances, such as the following:

• The phone is protected with a password
• The phone is damaged or the battery power is gone or low
• The responder can not be sure it belongs to the casualty

To the General Public

Please use ICE. It may save you or the life of a loved one.

Utah Special Needs Registry*

You can register online at specialneedsutah.org, or call 211. This registry website allows residents with special needs an opportunity to provide information to emergency response agencies so those agencies can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency.

Please be as complete as possible in your responses. You will be contacted occasionally to ensure the information is correct and to make any necessary changes.

* The information collected here will not be available to the public. It will only be shared with emergency response agencies to improve their ability to serve.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please call 211.

Reminder

There is no substitute for personal preparation. In a disaster, government and other agencies may not be able to meet your needs. It is important for all residents to make individual plans and preparations for their care and safety in an emergency