Plan ahead, it makes life easier for us and you.

Written By: Troy Buzalsky
Canby Fire District

When the fire alarm sounds in the fire station your firefighters are on duty, ready, willing, and able to respond to all your emergency needs. Whether it’s a fire, an accident, or a medical emergency, Canby Fire District stands prepared in your time of need.

More than one half of our emergency responses are medical in nature. From heart attacks to strokes, from diabetic emergencies to falls ending in hip fractures, your highly trained paramedics are here for you.

Have you ever asked, I wonder what I could do for our firefighters and paramedics? The answer is more simple than you think. Be prepared for our visit. That doesn’t mean the house needs to be picked up, nor does it mean you need to have a plate of cookies on standby, what that means is to have the information we need readily available, so in an emergency, it’s already organized and ready to go.

Not so many years ago we had a program called “The Vial of Life.” The program asked people to put vital information into a vial (small bottle) and leave it in the refrigerator. Emergency workers would then search your refrigerator to get the information from the vial. We have replaced the vial of life program with a more user friendly system that simply asks our citizens to place this vital information on their refrigerator with a magnet. This way, at a glace our firefighters and paramedics can quickly and easily access this much needed information.

The important information we are looking for might seem irrelevant today, but trust me, if you can’t speak, are disoriented, or unconscious, this information is truly life saving. Here is some of the information we need: name, address, phone number, birth date, social security number (optional), insurance information, doctors name and number, medical history, medication, and allergies. We also like to know your hospital preference and if you have a POLST or DNR on file. Finally we ask for a couple emergency contacts, which usually is a family member or close friend.

In an emergency Every Second Counts. If you do your part by being prepared, I promise you, Canby Fire District will be prepared to handle your emergency, and will do it with the skill, patience, and courtesy you deserve. A copy of the Canby Fire District medical information card is available on our Web Site at www.canbyfire.org.