Oskaloosa Lions Continue Spirit Of Service
Oskaloosa Lions Club members work on packaging ‘File of Life’ cards for local distribution during their meeting Thursday night.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The unthinkable happens and you become ill. You call for an ambulance, but by the time they arrive, you have slipped into unconsciousness. How will the medics know what medications your are taking? Does your spouse even know what medications your taking?
The Oskaloosa Lions Club would like to help out, and are offering a program called ‘File of Life’, “to aid in their medical care.”
The two cards are provided and help provide, to others, medical information about such things as surgical procedures, prescription and over the counter medications that you may be taking, or any other health issue. It also provides a place to include doctor and emergency contact information.
One card has a magnetic strip, allowing it to be placed on the refrigerator, while the other is a portable version, allowing it to be placed in a billfold, purse or the glove compartment in your vehicle.
According to a ‘File of Life’ press release, “The FILE OF LIFE idea was born in Bridgeport, Conn. a few years ago in a slightly [different] form, as the Vial of Life, which was kept inside the refrigerator, M. G. Ishler said [Ishler is the Director of the Sought Hadley, Mass, Council on Aging]. But the small vial, with a small piece of paper containing medical information inside of it, absorbed moisture so the information became unreadable, in addition to getting lost. “The EMTs don’t have time to clean out the refrigerator to find the vial” said Ishler, who helped organize the program.”
“At this time, each family member may receive one card at no cost. If someone wants two cards for a family member, we ask a donation of $1.00 to cover the cost of the second card.”
The Oskaloosa Lions Club is the first Lions Club in the area to provide the cards. “People are taking them,” said Debbie Doty, who had spotted someone with one recently.
You can get your ‘File of Life’ at either the Hy-Vee pharmacy or at Mahaska Drug. You can also contact any Lions Club Member to receive one.
The Oskaloosa Lions Club can be found on Facebook HERE, or website HERE.
