Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune:
In a collaborative effort to support the community's most vulnerable members, River Forest Township and the River Forest Fire Department are teaming up to ensure seniors are better prepared for medical emergencies. This month, they've launched a new initiative to distribute an ICE (In Case of Emergency) Packet to all River Forest residents aged 60 and above.
The ICE Packet includes a comprehensive medical information form that individuals can fill out and keep in their freezers, where paramedics can quickly find it during an emergency. To make this easier, recipients will also receive a decal to place on their freezer doors, highlighting the presence of the ICE Packet inside.
River Forest Township Supervisor Carla Sloan highlighted that this program aligns seamlessly with the township's commitment to senior services, focusing on enhancing health and safety. The current ICE Packet is an improved version of a document that the fire department has been distributing experimentally over the last couple of years. Firefighter/Paramedic Dave Bochenek, who spearheads this project, mentioned that roughly 20 to 30 forms were handed out at local gatherings like block parties and neighborhood association meetings over the past year.
This time around, the township has produced 1,500 ICE Packets set to be distributed throughout the community. The initial rollout will occur during Celebrating Seniors Week, running until May 19th. Similar forms have been utilized nationwide, with firefighters crediting them for improving response times and ensuring safer care, according to Bochenek.
The packet itself is structured as a detailed questionnaire asking individuals to provide an accurate overview of their medical history, including current medications, past health issues, emergency contacts, and insurance details. These insights are meant to assist paramedics in delivering prompt and appropriate treatment.
However, due to regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), paramedics cannot retain any of the information provided. Instead, they recommend that patients bring their ICE Packets with them when transported to medical facilities.
"Having the ICE Packet," Bochenek explained, "means that even if the patient can't communicate, we still have essential medical history that could guide our decisions—and do so more swiftly."
This initiative not only strengthens the connection between first responders and the community but also empowers seniors with peace of mind knowing they’re better prepared for unexpected medical situations.
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