If The Caregiver Has A Medical Emergency

What Happens To The Person In His Care?

How will emergency personnel know that someone is in the house with a need for care?

Smart Card For First Responders

A Smart Card is a universal form, placed on the refrigerator in your home or the glove box of your car. It provides critical information to First Responders concerning an individual with special needs. The Smart Card explains the special needs of the indiviuals in your home so they know what physical or mental challenges they need to be aware of.

First Responders are Police officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Ambulance Personnel, and any other personnel associated with an emergency responce.

How does the Smart Card work?

Imagine that you've called 911 because you are experiencing a heart attack. The dispatcher will notify the First Responder that there is a call coming from a home that is registered with the Smart Card Program. Upon arrival, the First Responders will assess the situation and then check the refrigerator for the Smart Card. If you are unable to speak, the Smart Card will explain to them abou the special needs of others in the home. It helps the First Responder know how to better recognize and respond to the needs of the individuals with special needs (which includes individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness).

Special Needs:

Physical, mental, emotional, behavioral, learning, developmental, cognitive, and medical needs.

Examples:

Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Disability, Epilepsy, Serious Mental Illness, Mental Retardation, Down Syndrome, and Seizure Disorder.

To Answer Your Questions:

Officer Tracy Grady, 520-452-7500, Sierra Vista Police Department, E-mail: tracy.grady@sierravistaaz.gov

Capt. Bob Fields, 520-417-4400, Sierra Vista Fire Department

Engineer Sam Loucks, 520-417-4400, Sierra Vista Fire Department

Sierra Vista Police Department
911 N. Coronado Dr.
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Tel: 520-452-7500

This information was copied from the Sierra Vista Police Department's Smart Card brochure.

The next question this brings up is, what arrangements have you made for your loved one's care if you should have an extended stay in the hospital?