Welcome to Georgia’s Yellow Dot Program
Welcome to Georgia’s Yellow Dot Program
Starting a Yellow Dot Program in your Community
What is Georgia’s Yellow Dot Program?
Georgia’s Yellow Dot program is a free program designed to help first responders provide life-saving medical attention after a medical emergency. The Georgia Yellow Dot Program alerts lets first responders know that you have completed a
personal
information form
and where they can find it. Providing information on medical conditions, medications, or medical allergies will help medical professionals make the best decision about your emergency medical treatment (link to the
history
of Yellow Dot
)
DISCLAIMER: The program only works if emergency responders and medical personnel at the hospital are trained to recognize the Yellow Dot sticker, where to find the packet, and how to use the information. Non-participating counties have not been trained on the program.
Where are the current Yellow Dot communities in Georgia?
Where do I get Yellow Dot Packets?
Packets can be picked up at local enrollment sites. You can find a list of enrollment sites here . Additional Emergency Information Forms can be filled out and printed online here. You can get a packet for the vehicles you drive up to a maximum of two vehicles per person.
Can I start a Yellow Dot Program in my community?
Yes, you can start a Yellow Dot Program in your community by following the steps listed here.
Who should use Georgia’s Yellow Dot Program?
Georgia’s Yellow Dot Program can be used by anyone but may be most helpful for:
- people with multiple or serious medical conditions
- severe allergies
- children with special needs
- individuals with dementia or mental health issues
- any medically fragile person
What is included is in the packet?
A Yellow Dot sticker for your car or motorcycle; the Emergency Information Form and information about the program.
What’s on the
Emergency
Information Form
?
- Personal contact information
- Name
- Address
- Primary language
- 2 emergency contacts
- Your doctor
- Your pharmacy
- Emergency contact information
- Medical history
- Medical conditions
- Major surgeries
- Allergies
- Other important information
- Your photo
- List of medications
Be sure to complete both sides of the form and print legibly.
What do I put in the yellow OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION box?
This box is intended for any information you feel is important and was not captured on the form. Since this box will stand out to emergency responders and medical personnel, you can also highlight something you feel is especially important. If you have an advance directive, living will or Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) and did not include it in your Yellow Dot packet, you should list its location here.
What type of photo should I use?
- One that can be used to clearly identify you as you look now.
- You are the only one in the photo
- It should be from the shoulders up, not your whole body
- Taken in good lighting with a neutral background
- It should be approx. 2” X 2 ¾”
What if I do not have a photo?
If you don’t already have a photo, the least expensive option is to have someone take a photo for you and print it at home or have it printed at a store that prints pictures. You can usually get a single photo printed for less than $1. You will need to trim the photo to make it fit so be mindful of that when taking the photo. Don’t get too close. You can also choose to get a passport photo taken. These photos are a great size for the form but will cost more. Prices vary but are usually between $10 and $15 dollars. Many stores that print photos offer this service as well.
What should I include on my list of medications?
- ALL prescription medications
- ALL over-the counter medications
- ALL vitamins
- ALL health supplements or natural herbs
- Include the dosage and how much you take
- Include the directions for taking your medications
If you already have a list of your medications, you can include a copy in your packet instead of writing them down. You can also ask your pharmacy to print out your medications and include the copy in your packet. REMEMBER: It’s important to update this list when any of your medications change. Add additional pages if needed.
What if I can’t include all my information in the medical history or medications section?
Use the OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Box (highlighted in yellow), or if needed, include additional information on paper with the packet. Be sure to highlight that you have other information that you want first responders to read using the ‘other important information’ box.
What should be included in a completed yellow folder?
- Your completed
Emergency Information Form
including photo
- Medications list, if not listed on the form
- Additional Medical History that may be helpful
- Copies of any advanced directives, living wills, or Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
Where do I put the Yellow Folder?
- In your car: in a visible location in glove compartment
- On your motorcycle: in a saddlebag
- At your home: on the outside of your refrigerator
Where do I place the Yellow Dot sticker?
- In your car: driver’s side, lower rear window
- On your motorcycle: the “triple tree”
- At your home: on or beside the main door you use to enter your home
Can I still participate in Georgia’s Yellow Dot Program if I do not want to put the sticker on my car or house?
If you do not use the sticker, there is no guarantee that first responders will know to look for the form. The sticker alerts first responders to look for the form in the glove compartment, motorcycle saddle bag, or on the refrigerator. To save time and help your emergency responders, it is recommended to use the sticker.
I have information that I’m not comfortable putting on the form in case my family sees it. What should I do?
Emergency responders and medical personnel will use the information that you put on the form. If information is blank or not checked, they will not assume you do not have that condition. They will follow established protocols when information is not available.
Are first responders and medical personnel required to utilize all of the information I put on my form?
No. First responders will determine the most useful information from your form as it applies to the situation. They will also determine whether or not to use the form based on how up-to-date they feel it is.
You can download an
Emergency
Information Form
here.
The emergency information form mentions Advanced Directives, Living Wills and Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) what are these?
Advanced Directives - - Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care, which protects your right to refuse medical treatment that you do not want or to request treatment you do want, in the event you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. Advance directives are legally valid throughout the United States. While you do not need a lawyer to fill out an advance directive, your advance directive becomes legally valid as soon as you sign them in front of the required witnesses. The laws governing advance directives vary from state to state, so it is important to complete and sign advance directives that comply with your state's law.
Living Will - A Living Will is a document that could be used to postpone or delay death. The name of the document may differ from state to state. Each state however identifies documents of this nature as advance directives. They allow us to choose the kinds of medical treatment we want or don’t want. Specifically, the Living Will allows us to choose whether or not we want to die naturally, without our death being artificially prolonged by various medical procedures.
POLST - Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is a medical order that aims to enable seriously ill patients to designate the treatments they want and to ensure that those preferences are honored by medical professionals. The POLST is based on a conversation between you and your health care professional.
The POLST conversation is about:
(a) your specific disease, treatment options (including benefits and alternatives), and what will happen as the disease continues; and
(b) your goals of care and values.
After the conversation, your health care professional will fill out a POLST form, marking what treatments you do or do not want at the end of your life. Since the POLST is a medical order, once your health care professional signs it, it means that your treatment wishes will be known and should be followed during a medical emergency, regardless of where you are. Read more about POLST at http://www.gapolst.org.
Additional Information About Advance Directives –
Emergency medical technicians cannot honor living wills or medical powers of attorney. Once emergency personnel have been called, they must do what is necessary to stabilize a person for transfer to a hospital, both from accident sites and from a home or other facility. After a physician fully evaluates the person's condition and determines the underlying conditions, advance directives can be implemented. Learn more here: CaringInfo: Resources
Do I have to pay to participate in the Yellow Dot?
No, the program is free.
Are there Yellow Dot programs in other states?
The Yellow Dot program began in Connecticut in 2002. Many states have adopted the program. In other states, the Yellow Dot program is used only for vehicle. Georgia has expanded the program to include medical emergencies in the home. The Georgia Yellow Dot logo was created to look similar to other Yellow Dots so it could be recognized when you travel in other states.
Click
here for a brief history of the Yellow Dot Program
.
Why can’t I just print off a form and use it if I live in another county?
The program only works if emergency responders and medical personnel at the hospital are trained to recognize the Yellow Dot sticker, know where to find the packet, and how to use the information. Non-participating counties have not been trained on the program.
Contact Us
Jim Kelly
55+ Driver Safety Program Manager
[email protected]
Lila Ralston
55+ Driver Safety Program Consultant
[email protected]
Page last updated 12/15/2022