Yellow Dot Program review

I received our Pennsylvania Yellow Dot booklet to record medical information and keep in our van last week.

Have you heard about  the Yellow Dot program? On the Pennsylvania Penndot website they state the program:

 assists citizens in the “golden hour” of emergency care following a traffic crash when they may not be able to communicate their needs themselves. Placing a Yellow Dot decal in your vehicle’s rear window alerts first responders to check your glove compartment for vital information to ensure you receive the medical attention you need.

When I consider the amount of time we travel the Pennsylvania roads with my daughters in their wheelchairs, this certainly sounds like something for our vehicle. I have tried not to dwell on the thoughts of what would happen if we were involved in an accident. But…

What if something happened and I could not speak for myself or my daughters?       

With this thought, I sent for the Yellow Dot kit and received it in less than two weeks. The kit contains a sticker to place inside the rear left window and a booklet to fill with pertinent medical information. The booklet is to go into the car’s glove compartment after you fill  in the information and attach a photo. Booklet done ✔️ Sticker affixed ✔️ 

I’ll be honest, I have concerns about the Yellow Dot program.

look very closely to see the sticker through the reflective window

Based on my experience with TSACARES at the airport, I am not confident every first responder will know about the program. There needs to be some sort of in-house training or educating about the program for our ambulance, police, and fire companies. Will they know to look for the yellow dot sticker?  And even if they do, will they see it? If they don’t know, or remember, to look I doubt it will catch their eye. It just doesn’t seem very visible through the window reflection. In a wheelchair accessible van with a side lift the back left window is not an obvious spot. I am wondering if placing it on the window with the lift access would be more noticable.

On the other hand, it has the potential to be very beneficial.

In a matter of very little time and of no cost to our family I have a little more peace of mind. Should we be in an emergency situation I have their crucial information available. Also, because the info is with us in our vehicle, there are no concerns that some have regarding the more visual 911 information registration process. The yellow dot kit remains private. It seems worth the small amount of trouble to be proactive in sharing critical information. Find more info and the link to the forms HERE.

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