By Bonnie Athas
Davis County Health Dept.
What is that Yellow Dot in the rear window on the driver’s side? It is a life saving Yellow Dot sticker to alert first responders that there is important information in the glove box about the people in the car.
Time is crucial in an emergency and immediate access to the appropriate medical care may make the difference between life and death. Through the Yellow Dot program residents of Davis County can receive a yellow medical form to fill out which includes their name, age, phone number, emergency contacts, personal physician, medical conditions and recent surgeries, medication and allergies.
Susan Price, a Davis County resident, has a deep appreciation for the program. She was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of bone cancer. As part of her treatment, she had her sternum and part of her ribs removed and now has only part of her chest muscle protecting her heart and other vital organs.
“If someone were to do CPR on me without knowing my medical history, they would kill me,” she said.
“Instead of using two fists to apply pressure to my chest, I can only handle the pressure of three fingers. The Yellow Dot program is crucial for a person like me and I’m a very strong advocate for it.”
The Yellow Dot form has a place for a photo on the front so the first responder can identify who they are working on, and is filled out in pencil so as medical conditions change, the form can be updated. Each person in the family should have a Yellow Dot form placed in every glove box of each family vehicle they normally ride in.
Stop by your local senior activity center or the following fire department stations to obtain a Yellow Dot package:
ҐStation 81 at 255 South 100 West, Bountiful
ҐStation 61 at 175 South Main, Kaysville
For more information, visit: www.utahyellowdot.com, or call the Davis County Health Department’s at 801-525-5063.