Ala. Signs Residents up With Emergency Response Program

Aug. 25--Ohatchee police Chief Jason Oden remembers the time he ended up dog-sitting for an elderly woman who had been involved in a traffic accident.

The woman, traveling with her dog, couldn't communicate because of her injuries. Oden, who didn't want the dog to be taken by animal control, took care of it while officers attempted to identify the woman.

The incident could have been avoided had the woman participated in the Yellow Dot Program, which provides first responders with medical and emergency contact information at the scene of an accident.

About 30 people signed up for the program in an event Monday in Ohatchee, and many more took extra packets home for their families, Oden said. Chris Lehr, an Ohatchee resident, picked up several packets for his family.

"It is a great program," he said. "I'm allergic to most pain medicines. This is information that they need to know to respond to me better."

Ohatchee adopted the program during this past year, according to Oden, and has seen a positive response.

"This is the first year we've had a post on the west side of the county," Oden said. "We are going to have an office set up to do this year round."

While the program is free and takes no longer than five minutes to complete, a lot of people are not aware of it, Oden said.

"We are having to go to the people to get the word out about the program," he said.

Ohatchee High School students will have the opportunity to sign up with the program Sept. 2, Oden said.

"The school is willing to let students take time out of class to sign up," he said. "Our hope is to get some of the parents involved as well. Think about how many parents who would prefer to know sooner rather than later that their child was involved in an accident. This can help us do that."

Oxford signed up approximately 300 residents for the program last year according to Ben Stewart, Oxford Fire Department assistant chief.

"We went to the libraries during their summer programs, health fairs, and the mall," Stewart said. "This program certainly increases the chances of saving lives because the information included in the packet can go to the paramedics and then to the hospital. It cuts down any uncertainty."

First responders call the hour after an accident the "golden hour," according to Oden, because it is the most crucial time in providing life-saving medical attention. Beyond the medical information, the Yellow Dot packet provides an emergency contact.

"In every accident that we have an incoherent or unconscious person it takes 45 minutes to an hour to notify the family," he said.

In the incident with the elderly woman and the dog, it took Ohatchee police an hour and a half to notify the woman's family, Oden said.

Copyright 2015 - The Anniston Star, Ala.