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Placing a yellow dot on the rear window of a car could result in a faster and more focused medical response in case of an accident.
The Yellow Dot Program — the first medical response program of its kind in Utah — was unveiled Thursday by the state departments of Public Safety and Health, and the Utah Area Agencies on Aging.
The Yellow Dot decal, placed in the lower left corner of the rear window of a car, alerts emergency personnel that there is pertinent medical information about the car's owner or occupants, including photos for identification purposes, in the glove box.
Because the information is immediately on hand, emergency crews can deliver the right care without having to wait to locate a patient's medical information, hospital preference, emergency contacts and current medications.
Jill Stevens, a former Miss Utah and former soldier who is now an emergency room pediatric nurse at Primary Children's Medical Center, said she was "in awe" when she first heard about the free program being offered to citizens.
"It is the more focused medical care that will save lives," Stevens said.
"That will help guide medical care, so we can give the best care in the quickest amount of time," Stevens added, noting that the first hour of response is most critical. "Every bit of information we can get is so vital."
The free program's official kickoff is Tuesday in Tooele County, where individuals may sign up at various community center locations.
People can also sign up prior to the kickoff date by visiting http://www.utahyellowdot.com.
Utah Highway Safety specialist Rhonda Parker said she learned about the program, which was created in Connecticut in 2002 for the elderly, and liked what she saw. But she wanted to open up the program to all ages.
"It is important to save all citizens, not just senior citizens," Parker said.
Parker said she believes Utah is the eighth state in the nation to implement the program and one of the first few in the west.
Parker said the goal of the Yellow Dot Program is to "continue to save more lives on the highways ... and have less deaths in Utah."
Twitter: @CimCity —
The Yellow Dot Program
P The program will kick off Tuesday in Tooele County. Visit utahyellowdot.com for a list of sign-up locations or to fill out a form online. For questions, call the Department of Public Safety at 801-366-6043.