Emergency Programs Can Save Lives
By State Rep. Dane Watro (R-Luzerne/Schuylkill)
PennDOT is reminding residents of two voluntary programs aimed at saving lives in emergency situations. Participation in both programs is free of charge.
Under PennDOT’s Yellow Dot Program participants fill out a form with emergency contact, medical contact and medical information, insert it in a special folder and then place it in their vehicle’s glove compartment. A yellow dot sticker affixed to the rear window alerts emergency responders to the availability of information to help them provide better care to crash victims.
The Emergency Contact Information Program offers Pennsylvania driver’s license and PennDOT-issued ID holders the opportunity to log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. Participants can update their records as needed, but only law enforcement officials can view the information in the system. In the event of an emergency, law enforcement can use a participant’s ID to find his or her emergency contact information.
The Yellow Dot program is used only in vehicle crashes, but the Emergency Contact Information program can be used in other emergencies as well as crashes. More information on both programs is available at www.pa.gov.