Last month, Oneida, Madison and Herkimer Counties joined an effort to prevent deaths from automobile accidents. The Yellow Dot program is designed to give medical professionals information they need if you can't.
When emergency responders are called to an accident, they sometimes don't know very much about the injured. That can be dangerous, especially for people with underlying medical conditions or who take medications known to interact with other drugs.
The Yellow Dot program makes first responders aware of those things if you're not able to, says Herkimer County Sheriff Christopher Farber.
"If the person is confused, in shock or unconscious, it’s very difficult for them to get this information," Farber said.
Here's how it works: Drivers complete a medical information card and place it in the vehicle's glove compartment. Then, they apply a half-dollar sized yellow dot to the driver’s side of the car's backseat window -- the one that doesn’t roll down. If there's a crash and the driver is hurt, emergency responders will look for the yellow dot and retrieve the card. It helps to attach a photo, in case you aren't the one driving during the crash.
Yellow Dot Kits can be ordered from your county sheriff’s department or from their website.
