The Chartwell Residents' Association is saving lives — one vial at a time.
The association kicked off their first-ever Vial of Life program, a campaign aimed at helping first responders better understand patients' medical history.
"It's about helping medics help you," said Tom Davies, CRA president.
Davies explains the program works by asking residents to fill out their medical information: prescriptions, supplements, health status, allergies and emergency contact people. The information is then to be stored in a small plastic vial distributed by the association and kept in an easily accessible location in the home.
Davies said the idea is to provide essential medical information to first responders in the case a resident cannot communicate.
"If a person is down and can't speak for themselves this program could save lives," he said. "It's for situations where you can't speak for yourself."
Davies said the idea came byway of a suggestion from Qualicum Beach paramedics in January.
The CRA distributed packages equipped with plastic vials, medical information sheets and medical record booklets to the 500 residents in Chartwell last week.
And now Davies said the CRA are putting the challenge out to other residents' associations in the area to do the same.
"Our (CRA's) objective is to do everything we can to improve the quality of life for Chartwell residents," said Davies, adding he hopes other neighborhood associations follow suite in effort to provide the best medical support possible.