Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

United by a shared mission to help those who need it most, River Forest Township and the River Forest Fire Department have joined forces to better prepare seniors for moments of medical emergency.

This month, they have begun distributing a new ICE (In Case of Emergency) Packet to River Forest residents who are 60-plus years old. The ICE Packet contains a medical information form that can be completed by the resident and stored in one’s freezer, where paramedics can easily locate it. At the same time, seniors will receive a decal to be placed on the front of the freezer to draw paramedics’ attention to the fittingly named ICE Packet.

The Township’s involvement is a natural outgrowth of its mission to serve seniors, including promoting health and safety, said River Forest Township Supervisor Carla Sloan.

The form is an updated version of a document that the River Forest Fire Department has been distributing on a pilot basis for the past few years.

The fire department’s point person is Firefighter/Paramedic Dave Bochenek. He estimated that over the past year or two, 20 to 30 forms have been given to residents at gathering such as block parties and neighborhood association meetings.

River Forest Township has produced 1,500 ICE Packets that it plans to distribute in the coming months, starting with its events during Celebrating Seniors Week, which run through May 19th.

Similar forms have been used in other communities across the country and first responders firefighters have credited it as an ally in providing swifter, safer service, said Bochenek.

The ICE Packet is structured as a questionnaire in which an individual gives an up-to-date snapshot of his or her medical history, such as medications currently being taken as well as prior health conditions. Other elements include a listing of personal emergency contacts, insurance information, and other details designed to give first responders firefighters insight that helps them provide treatment.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act precludes paramedics from storing any of the information, so paramedics encourage people they transport to medical facilities to hold onto their ICE Packets.

“With the ICE Packet,” he continued, “even if the patient is unable to speak, there’s some pertinent medical history that might steer our treatment in a certain direction-and we can do it faster.”

 

Tags: fire department works with seniors to prepare for medical emergencies, Firefighter/Paramedic Dave Bochenek, In Case of Emergency packet for senior citizens, preparing senior citizens for emergencies, River Forest Fire Department