Senior Center Launching State’s Third ‘Yellow Dot’ Safety Program

By John Voket

In the event of a serious traffic collision, emergency personnel know that minutes count. And in many cases, the proper information supplied to emergency responders about medical history, medications, allergies, and other health issues, can make all the difference when rendering the best care both at the scene and in the emergency room.

But if the driver or passenger is unconscious, or their identification is not immediately accessible to help locate medical information, valuable time lost could literally mean the difference between life and death. That is why Newtown seniors should get acquainted with Dot — Yellow Dot, that is.

On Wednesday, July 14, the Newtown Senior Center is planning a 10 am event to launch the townwide Yellow Dot program. Special invited guests at the luncheon include State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Police Chief Michael Kehoe, and Angela Deleon from People’s Bank.

Participants in the program literally have a small yellow dot affixed to the rear windshield of their vehicle. That dot sticker signals emergency or police responders that important medical information on the driver is immediately accessible in a specially marked envelope within the vehicle’s glove box. The enclosed information card also tells police if there is a person or pet at home who might be depending on the swift return of the accident victim, or whether a child or other person may be waiting to be picked up by the driver.

The Yellow Dot is an initiative of the Town’s TRIAD program, a cooperative effort supported by the Senior Center, the Newtown Police Department, and other agencies seeking to enhance the health and safety of town seniors. July 14 also marks the first year anniversary of Newtown’s TRIAD.

Attorney General Blumenthal told The Bee Tuesday that the Yellow Dot program is of vital importance to all seniors in participating communities.

“This program can be a lifesaver for seniors who need special medical consideration in an emergency situation,” Mr Blumenthal said. “I fully support the Yellow Dot program here in Newtown and across Connecticut.”

The attorney general said he would be on hand at the local Senior Center to mobilize support and awareness for this “tremendous service, which is now available in Newtown.”

During the July 14 event, attendees will have help on hand to apply the sticker, and to complete the information kit, which includes a photo that will be taken and supplied to participants free of charge. Folks who do not attend the event can still become Yellow Dot participants by contacting the Senior Center for a kit at 270-4310, or by visiting the center. Funding for the program is provided by People’s Bank.

According to Marilyn Place, Senior Center director, participants need not be active with the center to participate. The initiative is among numerous programs promoted through the town’s TRIAD program. Ms Place said volunteers will assist the older drivers with affixing the yellow dots and filling out the pertinent card information.

Plans are underway to conduct other Yellow Dot application programs at area churches and social organizations throughout the year. Ms Place said the initial wave of Yellow Dot packages will be provided at no cost to participants thanks to the donation of a special camera that takes ID photos, and the special film required.

“We couldn’t offer this for free initially without the support of the Newtown Rotary, which paid for the camera, and the Newtown Commission on Aging, which provided the funds to purchase film,” Ms Place said. “We also want to send special thanks to Newtown Police Officer MaryHelen McCarthy for helping to bring the TRIAD program to Newtown one year ago.”

Angela Deleon, People’s Bank state TRIAD coordinator, initiated the Yellow Dot program in Shelton in 2001. The idea was a natural progression from the File of Life program she helped the bank introduce 13 years ago, which provides emergency responders with similar information, which is typically posted in a bright red envelope on a person’s refrigerator.

“The Yellow Dot program is expanding quickly throughout the state,” said Ms Deleon. “To date, there are 14 communities that are using it, and we’re getting calls from other towns here in Connecticut, as well as from communities in Arizona, Virginia, Florida, and Orange County, California, that want to use our model.”

Ms Deleon stressed the importance of reviewing the Yellow Dot information card regularly, and bringing it to doctor visits helps ensure the information stays current.

“That’s why we have participants fill the information out in pencil,” she said.