Alabama is experiencing a boom in applicants for its Yellow Dot program, which provides kits to drivers so they can make vital medical information available to emergency responders in the event of an Alabama car accident. Though not the first state to develop such a service, Alabama's Yellow Dot program is the most-used in the nation, and the state has become the source of information on the program for other states.
The Yellow Dot program was developed in Connecticut in 2002 to alert emergency medical technicians of accident victims' preexisting conditions. Applicants to the program receive a free yellow dot sticker for their car windows to alert first responders that medical information is located in a yellow folder in the glove compartment of the vehicle. Information in the folder can include a list of prescription medications and details on medical conditions.
Alabama's Yellow Dot program began in Etowah County in 2009 when Sheriff Todd Entrekin instituted the program using grant money. The program became so popular in cities and counties across Alabama that the state took over the program's operation.
Now, government officials from 33 other states have asked Alabama's unofficial Yellow Dot contact Lora Weaver to send out 150 information packets to state governments across the country.
One reason the program may be gaining popularity is the ever-growing senior population in the United States. There are over 40 million folks over 65 in the U.S. and over 32 million of them are licensed drivers. Being able to alert emergency medical technicians to pertinent medical conditions can be lifesaving for aging adults who may have life-threatening conditions.
The Yellow Dot program is also attractive to other age groups. Many families enroll in the program to provide information about children's medical conditions to first responders in the event of a car accident that renders caregivers unable to do so.
Since the Yellow Dot program is a free service, all Alabama residents should sign up to receive the yellow dot sticker and its accompanying folder. Doing so will keep first responders informed of accident victims' medical conditions and ensure that appropriate care will be administered.
