FAIRHOPE, Ala. - The Rotary Club of Fairhope got an early peek at a new potentially life-saving program that will soon be implemented by the local police department.

“This is a program that’s basically designed for seniors although anyone can participate,” said Fairhope Police Chief Bill Press, as he introduced the basics of the Yellow Dot program Wednesday at the club’s regular lunch meeting at Homestead Village.

The Yellow Dot program helps first-responders get in touch with emergency contacts and ensures a person’s current medication and conditions are considered when emergency treatments are administered for injuries in the event of a vehicle crash or other medical emergency. When law enforcement or emergency medical personnel arrive on the scene of an accident and they see the “yellow dot” displayed in the lower left corner of the rear window, they know that vital medical information can be found in the glove compartment of the vehicle that can aid them in giving appropriate treatment to the injured occupant, who might be unconscious, or for other reasons unable to speak.

Those who choose to utilize this free program will come to the police department and pick up a Yellow Dot packet, Chief Press said. While there a department employee will take a photograph of each participant to tape to the front of their packet information sheet. Participants then complete the information sheet, providing name, address and the phone number of a person to contact in case of emergency; medical history, allergies, medications and dosage taken and names of doctors caring for them. The completed information sheet is placed inside the Yellow Dot folder, which is then placed in the glove box of their vehicle. The last step is to affix the Yellow Dot decal in the vehicle rearview window.

“Let’s say you are involved in a crash,” Press said, “When the fire department or paramedics treat people at the scene of an accident, they use certain medications for immediate response. When they see certain medications (listed on the participant’s information sheet) that might conflict with the medications they would normally give,” it can prevent further medical complications at the scene. He added that those on the scene can use the participant’s physician listing to aid in getting the injured person’s doctor to the hospital more quickly.

Press anticipated they would be starting the program in February. “We are just waiting for the packets to come in.” He said they would notify the media when they were ready to begin.

Other police departments in the county plan to participate in the program also, Press said, as well as the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department.

“Much effort has gone into reducing the number of crashes on Alabama’s roadways, but for those involved in a crash, this simple, effective program can ensure that life-saving information is immediately available to first-responders,” Gov. Bob Riley stated in an October 2010 press release announcing a $110,000 grant to expand the Yellow Dot program to additional Alabama counties. The program, which ensures seniors and people with serious medical conditions receive more effective medical care after vehicle crashes, is funded by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs/Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Division.