ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Seconds and minutes count when you are involved in an car accident or other emergency and especially if you have medical conditions police and medical personnel need to know about when responding to the scene.

In an effort to make the most of the “golden first hour” after an incident, Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack and local police and fire departments along with insurance agencies came together Wednesday morning at the Baldwin County Central Annex in Robertsdale to introduce the “Yellow Dot” program designed to give citizens and first responders the vital information they need to treat injured persons at the scene of an emergency.

“Minutes are crucial and critical for first responders at an accident scene and can make all the difference in the world. Baldwin County has some of the best emergency personnel around and this program will be another tool to use in providing help needed in a crisis situation,” said Mack.

The first of its kind in the state, the program is completely free to any and all residents with any medical condition, regardless of age, and is funded by Mack, his partners and grant money from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division.

Lora Weaver, “Yellow Dot” program coordinator, said Connecticut was the first state to implement the program in 2002 and in February 2009, the Northeast Alabama Traffic Safety Office brought the program to Alabama as a pilot program in Etowah County.

They received $5,000 from ADECA. for the pilot program and last year received $110,000. This year they have already received another $110,000 to fund the program and take it statewide, Weaver said.

“It is extremely important for us to get this information to the public so we can help assist them in their time of need. All people, especially senior citizens, need to know someone has correct information and will be their voice when they can’t communicate with emergency workers. Even if they are conscious, sometimes they are too shook up to remember vital medical information and this allows them not to have to remember. This is especially helpful for men so the workers don’t have to dig a wallet out of a back pocket,” Weaver said.

The “Yellow Dot” kit comes in a bright yellow plastic folder and contains a yellow dot decal to affix to the bottom of the left rear window of the vehicle and also a photo of the person as well as contact numbers, current medications, allergies and preexisting medical conditions. The decal alerts first responders to the packet located in the glove compartment of the vehicle.

According to a “Yellow Dot Quick Facts” sheet, Alabama is the eighth state to implement the program and Baldwin County is the 17th county to adopt the program.

Those in attendance at the press conference had a chance to sign up for the program with representatives and have their pictures taken, fill out a personal information form and have a sheriff’s deputy place the decal on their vehicle for them.

Gary Patrick, Silverhill Volunteer Fire Department Chief, was on hand at the press conference and said he met back in July with Weaver, Mack and Chief Deputy Charlie Jones to discuss the possibility of how to bring the program to Baldwin County.

“When we were presented with this information, we were blown away by it and knew we had to have it here. We come across so many situations where we just don’t know the medical conditions of the victims or can’t access their information quickly and this will help so much. There was so much interest from everyone. It is a very good idea and a very good program. We would like to be able to set up booths at different events throughout the county, especially at senior centers, so we can get people to sign up,” Patrick said.

Those wishing to participate in the program can sign up at any of these locations throughout the county.

-Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department-Foley

-Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department-Robertsdale

-Bay Minette Police Department

-Doug Taylor State Farm

-Fairhope Police Department

-Francis-Holk Jones State Farm

-Gulf Shores Police Department

-Loxley Police Department

-Orange Beach Police Department

-Rosinton Volunteer Fire Department

-Russell Insurance Agency

-Silverhill Police Department

-Spanish Fort Fire and Rescue

-Tim Simmonds State Farm

For more information about the “Yellow Dot” program, go to www.adeca.alabama.gov. or contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at (251) 937-0210