Hobart seniors can obtain kits for emergency info

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HOBART — Seniors can obtain free Vial of Life packets, on which to enter vital information about themselves in the event of a medical emergency, at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Maria Reiner Senior Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart.

Robert Scott, EMS director with the Hobart Fire Department, and Hobart Police Lt. Jack Grennes will pass out the packets and the refrigerator magnets. The packet goes on the refrigerator door.

The forms have lines for information such as one’s name, date of birth, who to call in the event of an emergency and medications. Seniors can also include where a living will and do-not-resuscitate form can be located.

Scott said a number of seniors in the city have Lifeline, where they push a button and it calls 911.

“But by the time we get there the person could be unconscious. We know nothing about them and have to look through their purse and through their bills to get information. This eliminates all that,” Scott said.

He said the program targets seniors living alone, but can be for any senior who might be alone when an emergency occurs.

Scott said the Fire Department is providing the paper for the forms, St. Mary Medical Center is paying for the magnets that hold the packet, and CVS Pharmacy is donating the vials themselves.

For information, contact Scott at 942-5184, Ext. 3 or by email at rscotthfd@yahoo.com