File of Life

Before an emergency, post your "File of Life." When a medical emergency strikes, call 911. Don't head to the ER by car.

In any emergency, particularly with suspected heart attack or stroke, ambulance crews can begin lifesaving procedures right away. Paramedics in the Greenwich Hospital area can transmit vital information directly to hospital staff from the road.

Even before an emergency happens, here's a lifesaving step you can take, thanks to a national program called File of Life. Just fill out a File of Life form, slide it into its magnetized holder, and stick it on your refrigerator door. The form covers everything from allergies, medical conditions and prescriptions, to blood type and special needs such as hearing aids. Ambulance teams know to look for it on the fridge when they arrive at a house.

Greenwich Hospital gives a File of Life kit to every patient discharged home. To receive a kit, call Greenwich Emergency Medical Services at (203) 637-7505 or your local ambulance office.