wfn.org | Vial of Life

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (224
notes).

Note 223 by UMNS on July 17, 1997 at 15:50 Eastern (3419 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                              411(10-71B){223}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             July 17, 1997

Church seniors design program
to assist emergency personnel

                 by United Methodist News Service

     Medical personnel responding to emergency situations of
people in the communities surrounding First United Methodist
Church, Kittanning, Pa., now have assistance in diagnosing and
determining treatment.
      A group of older adults concerned about emergency care for
people confined to their homes, came together in May 1996 to
establish the "Vial of Life" program. 
     Designed primarily to serve people who live alone, have
restricted mobility or chronic health problems, the program
provides medical information to ambulance or rescue personnel who
may be called to the home, said Harry "Pat" Wolfe.  
     "Anything that would reduce the time interval in an emergency
could be of substantial benefit," he said.
     President of the denominationwide Committee on Older Adults,
Wolfe said the program fits very well in Older Adult Ministries.
He cited the example of Memorial United Methodist Church,
Farmington, Mo., which has initiated the program. Approximately 60
homes participate and it has approval from the regional ambulance
service. 
     The plan uses an amber-colored plastic prescription vial
containing an 8 1/2 x 11 inch form detailing the person's personal
and medical profile placed in the upper right hand section inside
the refrigerator.
     Participants in the program are given an identification decal
to place on the vial and one for the main entrance to the home to
"lead emergency personnel directly to the information in a minimal
amount of time when time well could be of the essence," Wolfe
said.
     Steps in creating the "Vial of Life" program were planning
and designing, recruiting volunteers to visit people who would
benefit most from the service, completing the form with them,
affixing the decals in their proper places and obtaining a legal
waiver to protect First United Methodist Church from any
liabilities. The program was launched last September. 
     A strength of the program is that "it combines both a
missionary and a service project," Wolfe said. 
     Although the program is considered successful, program
organizers are seeking ways to resolve a recurring problem: 
maintaining and updating the information in each vial. he said
program managers are looking to the volunteers to maintain contact
with people they originally visited to check the information and
establish contact between the participant and First United
Methodist Church.
     During its first year,  according to Wolfe, the "Vial of
Life" effort has been made available to local older adult housing
units and has been shared with other churches and emergency units
in nearby communities. Approximately 150 homes currently
participate.
     Wolfe and program organizers plan to present the program to
the Committee on Older Adults for its consideration as a ministry
it could endorse.
     For more information contact: First United Methodist Church,
301 North Jefferson St., Kittanning, Pa., 16201; or call (412)
548-4312.
                              #  #  #

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------