The Yellow Dot Program is a relatively new way for motorists to be saved when they have been in life-threatening motor vehicle accidents on America's roads. Under the program, motorists who register in their state receive a yellow decal that they place on their car's rear window. This alerts first responders to look inside of the car's glove compartment, where they will find the driver's photo, emergency contact information and recent medical history inside of a yellow folder that has been left for them by the Yellow Dot motorist.
As a result of this information, first responders get the information they need on a driver's medical conditions, allergies, prescribed medications and recent surgeries. Armed with this information, medical personnel can make informed decisions about the appropriate care for car accident victims during the "golden hour" of treatment that can often determine whether a patient lives or dies.
Growing Interest in the Program
The Yellow Dot Program began in 2002 in Connecticut. In 2009, the program was introduced in Etowah County of Alabama and helped save many car accident victims from further injury. Due to its success, the program quickly became so popular that it was expanded statewide. Moreover, after an article about the program appeared in USA Today earlier this year, other states became interested in emulating Alabama's achievement with Yellow Dot.
In a follow-up USA Today story, Lora Weaver, the Program Coordinator at the Northeast Alabama Traffic Safety Office, described the explosion of interest from around the country. "We have been contacted by 33 states," she said. "It's just a double workload on me, but it's been very fulfilling and rewarding knowing maybe we will make a difference in other parts of the country."
In addition to Alabama and Connecticut, there are Yellow Dot programs in New York, Massachusetts, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia and Illinois.
