LAVALLETTE — John Borowski of the Lavallette First Aid Squad gave a presentation to the mayor and council regarding a new initiative that puts important health documents in easy-to-reach places so first responders can access them quickly in case of an emergency.
Mr. Borowski gave the presentation at the council meeting on Sept. 5.
These documents would be filled out ahead of time by the resident and would include names, medications, points of contact, medical conditions and other items such as that. These would then be placed within a plastic pocket with the logo of the Lavallette First Aid Squad and can be placed on any magnetic surface. Mr. Borowski said the most common place, and most handy would be on the fridge.
Mr. Borowski said this idea is “cloned” from the Point Pleasant community, where the first aid squads do something identical. “What we are doing is Project ICE, in case of emergency, and it is real basic.”
He said the practice would greatly benefit the senior community, who tend to take more medicines and are more at risk for accidents and illness.
He also explained that in the case of an emergency, when first responders arrive, sometimes the person cannot answer questions, whether it be the nature of the accident or the stress of the situation preventing them from doing so. Mr. Borowski said this project will prevent first responders from “going through 22 boxes of pills and trying to write things down…this will save us time when it is all done, and it is accurate. It is not done under pressure.”
“That is the concept behind it. It’s done to gain time so we can spend less time on scene and more time getting them medical care,” said Mr. Borowski.
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