A lifesaving form of information is now available in Airdrie.
The Capsule of Life is a small container of double-sided forms that residents fill in with personal, medical information. The capsule is left in the fridge, giving EMS access to the information in case of a medical emergency.
“Most of us don’t wake up in the morning planning to call an ambulance but medical emergencies do happen and having your pertinent, personal information readily available can be lifesaving,” said Adam Loria, public education officer with EMS.
“I dealt with this first hand when I was a paramedic and when no one is home and there are no bystanders to tell you what is going on, this information helps you begin treatment and ensure you are using the right treatment.”
The capsules include information such as a doctor’s name and contact info, medications, medical history, allergies and contact info for next of kin.
Capsules of Life are recommended for senior citizens, the chronically ill, young children under the care of a babysitter or dayhome and those living alone.
“When a patient cannot speak for themselves, the information can mean the difference between life or death,” said Loria.
The capsules are free of charge and provided by the Calgary Emergency Medical Services Foundation and TransCanada. Residents are encouraged to keep the capsules in the right-hand side of the fridge and to put a sticker on the outside of the fridge so it is easily identifiable.
“We are trained when we arrive at a residence to look for the capsule because the information can be so helpful,” said Loria.
“You don’t want to be caught in a situation where you are unable to communicate and the people trying to help you don’t know your medical history. It gives us something to work with and helps your family members sleep at night knowing that information is readily available.”
The Capsule of Life has been available in Calgary for more than 10 years, but is just coming to Airdrie now that EMS is run by Alberta Health Services.
If you are interested in receiving a Capsule of Life, call the Calgary EMS Foundation at 403-955-9550 or visit www.emsfoundation.ca
