Can the “Vial of Life” Project Assure Senior Safety?

There is an on-going project called the “Vial of Life.” It does not include an actual vial as it is more a metaphor, but the project does aim to preserve life, specifically that of of seniors or anyone with a chronic medical condition and who may need emergency medical assistance anytime soon. We came across the Vial of Life project during a discussion with one of the most avid customers of Rescue Alert of California’s medical alert system. The project’s aim is altruistic, to say the least. But how does it fare in terms of effectively achieving its goal of ensuring senior safety? What is the Vial of Life: Realistic Limitations Quite simply, the Vial of Life consists of a medical form that contains your medical and any related information placed inside a re-sealable plastic baggie. The form can be obtained from the Vial of Life website, although it is similar (if not identical) to the medical form you usually fill out at clinics or hospitals. The filled out form should then be placed in a plastic baggie that has the official Vial of Life decal (a conspicuous label). Other items that may be placed in the plastic baggie include your EKG results, your living will or any equivalent document, your DNR (“Do Not Resuscitate” document, if you have any), and a recent photo of yourself (so that the medical personnel would be sure they are dealing with the right person). The plastic baggie containing all these documents should be attached on the door of your refrigerator. The purpose of the Vial of Life is to make your pertinent medical-related information readily accessible to medical emergency personnel in case of an emergency. And the availability of such vital information is critical in enabling the attending medical personnel in avoiding any mistake and in doing the best emergency treatment for you. For example, the results of your last EKG would give them crucial information regarding any heart-related event you may be having. Medical personnel would also need to know immediately if you are on any medication, what illnesses or allergies you may have, whether or not you have metal implants in your body or a heart pacemaker, if you are using hearing or seeing devices, and what language you speak. In normal circumstances, you can provide such information yourself—but in distress, especially in a severe accident, you might not even able to speak. And so in such a case, the Vial of Life can be a life-saver—especially if you are conscious and you can at least point a finger at the refrigerator door and mouth out “get it.” However, the Vial of Life is not a solve-all—it is effective only if the accident occurs at home, more so if it happens right near where the plastic baggie is attached (in the kitchen where your refrigerator is located). While it is similar in function to medical bracelets that contain all your pertinent medical information, its passive nature means it relies on the somehow off chance that someone from the responding medical rescue team would remember to check your refrigerator’s door for anything helpful attached to it. The upside, of course, is that it is free—you do not have to pay an exorbitant amount to get a decal or a plastic baggie or a medical form because you can easily make these things on your own. You can create the decal with a computer and an inkjet printer, and the plastic baggie can be bought at the corner store. If anything, the Vial of Life is an additional reassurance—something that can provide peace of mind. If you already have a medical alert system, having all your medical information attached to a conspicuous place will greatly enhance the efficiency of the attending medical team and avoid any snag. Although a good alert system provider like Rescue Alert of California’s monitoring center may already have provided all the pertinent medical information needed by the attending personnel. The bottom line is that the “Vial of Life” project, or any similar device whose goal is to provide an all-in-one, easy-to-read means to see a person’s medical condition, history, or needs is good in somehow ensuring senior safety. Despite its obvious limitations, it is a positive step toward empowering seniors and giving them some extra contingency in the event of an accident.