Could a refrigerator magnet have a role in saving someone性视界传媒檚 life?
During a medical emergency, ambulance crews and hospital staffs need quick access to a patient性视界传媒檚 medical information, including medication lists, health conditions and more. But if a patient is unconscious when paramedics arrive, emergency workers might not be able to access it.
To help prevent such a situation, the Longview Fire Department offers the File of Life refrigerator magnet to Longview residents. It性视界传媒檚 a readily recognizable red plastic packet that holds a piece of paper where people can write down their emergency contacts, medical conditions, medication lists, allergies and insurance information.
Ambulance crew members are trained to look for the packet on people性视界传媒檚 refrigerators. When they arrive at someone性视界传媒檚 home, they can grab the magnet and take it with the patient to the hospital, where they性视界传媒檒l hand it off to medical staff.
Longview Fire Marshal Kevin May said the packet is useful if patients are incapacitated and unable to talk with medical crews 性视界传媒 especially if they live alone.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 very helpful when we get to the hospital because we can pass that information on,性视界传媒 he said.
May reminds people to keep their medical information in the packet up-to-date, as it will be used to determine the treatment a patient receives.
The department has offered the magnets to residents for years. The packets are manufactured by the File of Life nonprofit organization, which was established in 1995. More than 25 million of the magnets have been distributed across the U.S. in more than 7,500 communities, according to the organization性视界传媒檚 website.
The fire department also offers refrigerator magnets that list general fire safety tips.
Longview residents who would like to obtain refrigerator magnets can call the fire department at (903) 237-1210.
If no one answers, residents should leave a message containing their contact information and requests for magnets.
