What is the File of Life?

The FILE OF LIFE idea was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut a few years ago in a slightly different form as the Vial of Life, which was to be kept inside the refrigerator. But the small vial, with a piece of paper containing medical information inside of it, kept getting lost. In addition, when moisture accumulated in the vial, the information became unreadable. "The emergency personnel don't have time to clean out the refrigerator to find the vial," said Ishler, who helped organize the program.

In addition to the FILE OF LIFE for the refrigerator, a compact version is also available for a person to carry in a wallet or purse. A card containing the same medical information is enclosed in the plastic case that is with the person at all times.

This personal wallet size version is an invaluable resource to emergency medical teams responding to critical, life-threatening situations. Having instant access to medical facts and data can make the difference when every second counts.