This idea just may save your life one day. First responders insist that the File of Life can quickly relay important medical facts in an emergency situation when every second counts!
A brief history
The File of Life comes from an older concept called the “Vial of Life.” The idea urged folks to keep an old prescription bottle inside their home’s refrigerator. Inside the bottle was important medical information.
Over decades, the “Vial of Life” idea evolved into magnetic or self-stick, wallet, and laminated card versions used by fire departments and councils on aging nationwide. A national File of Life effort and several local programs have spread the practice across the U.S. since the 1990s.
Different from I.C.E.
The File of Life is not the same as I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) cards. An I.C.E. card usually only lists contact numbers of people for police or emergency services to contact in an emergency.
The File of Life concept provides more in-depth information than is usually found on the I.C.E. card. The File of Life contains vital personal medical information and is kept on the outside of your refrigerator in a bright red pocket, so that it’s readily accessible to EMTs when they arrive on an emergency call.
Firefighters and EMS promote it
When someone is unconscious, confused, or not speaking English, responders need quick access to medication lists, allergies, chronic conditions, implants, and emergency contacts.
This vital information enables first responders to make safe, timely treatment decisions. Programs run by local fire/EMS agencies emphasize that a single sheet of facts, along with a designated place where responders know to look, removes guesswork, avoids dangerous drug interactions, and can even change whether a patient is taken to a particular hospital or treated with a certain medication.
That practical value is why fire agencies across the U.S. hand out File of Life kits for free and actively urge residents to use them.
What belongs on a File of Life?
The File of Life is often given the acronym L.I.F.E. or Lifesaving Information for Emergencies. It is essentially a condensed personal medical file.
Here are the essentials that an EMT needs in the first few minutes of a health emergency:
• Full name and date of birth
• Emergency contact(s)
• Current medications with dosages
• Known drug or food allergies
• Major medical conditions (for example: diabetes, COPD, dialysis)
• Implanted devices (pacemaker, insulin pump)
• Recent surgeries
• Primary care and specialist phone numbers
• Health insurance information
• Blood type, if known
• Location of advance directives (DNR, POLST, power of attorney).
In addition,
• Keep originals of physician-signed orders in the packet if local rules require them. Otherwise, note where those originals are stored.
• Don’t forget to add a small note about mobility limitations or communication needs (hearing, language, dementia).
• Users are urged to update their card whenever medications or conditions change. You should check the card at least once a year.
Where does it go in my RV?
Most File of Life kits are designed for a refrigerator door, because responders are trained to check the fridge area.
RV refrigerators can be different from typical stix-n-brix appliances. Some RV fridges are quite small and may not be easily located. The RV fridge exterior may be non-magnetic, preventing a magnet from securely holding the File of Life in place.
First responders urge RVers to keep the same “placement where responders expect to look”:
• Keep a File of Life on the RV refrigerator door if it’s readily visible from the main entry.
• If your RV’s fridge isn’t an ideal spot, attach the pouch or clearly labeled laminated card to the inside of the main entry door, or to a cupboard right beside the entry. Make sure it’s immediately visible when the RV door opens.
• Place a second wallet-sized File of Life card in your glove box or driver’s door pocket and also one in your purse or wallet. Many File of Life programs include a compact version for that purpose.
• Put a small sticker near the RV’s entry door (inside or outside) that alerts responders there’s a File of Life inside and where to find it. Agencies that distribute File of Life kits often include door/window stickers for this purpose.
• If you use a backup digital copy (phone screenshot, encrypted note, or your smartphone health app), make sure at least one trusted family member has access.
How to get a File of Life kit
Many fire departments, county health or aging offices, hospitals, and civic groups distribute File of Life packets for free.
Some counties let you request one by phone. If a local kit isn’t available, printable inserts and templates are widely posted by local EMS and health agencies so you can make your own and put it in a zip-top bag with a bright label.
From the File of Life website: “If you are an individual who wants to know where you can pick up a free File of Life for yourself or several for your whole family, we’d recommend reaching out to your local fire, police, sheriff, or ambulance departments, as well as local medical centers, your town hall, and any local community groups (Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, RSVP Associations, Council On Aging, etc.). We provide File of Life products to organizations such as these so that they can distribute them to individuals in their communities.”
Practical tips for RVers
Keep your L.I.F.E. form current. Cross off old medications and add new ones with dose and frequency. Date the form and initial changes.
If you tow or store the RV seasonally, check the File of Life before each trip and after every major medication or diagnosis change.
Make sure your wallet card reflects the same information as the RV packet.
Finally, tell at least one travel partner where the card is and how you keep advance directives available. Remember that every second saved in an emergency helps.
Why L.I.F.E. should be inside your RV
RV travel mixes unfamiliar places, different care networks, and the reality of being farther from your usual doctor(s). A clear, visible File of Life bridges that gap. It helps local EMS treat you appropriately, it reduces delays in care, and it gives peace of mind to you and your travel companions.
For travelers who camp in remote areas or who are farther from their medical home, that single sheet of facts is often the fastest way to communicate what matters most.
Here is the official File of Life® website.
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RVT1225
Great info! Thanks!
They look cheap, but you have to buy a minimum of 1000!
Talk to the local 1st responders. Many offer them free of charge.
I understand that, I’m a retired FF. I was merely quoting what the link led to and the pricing. Not all FD’s have these. Thanks for your input.
Thanks, Ran and Jim. The info in the post was incorrect. I’ve corrected it. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Just Google ‘Printable File of Life form’.
My spouse and I each have one on our RV frig.
Great article, thank you for the tip!
Excellent info re: File of Life. FYI: Most RV parks will have a parking pass which is placed on the dash/mirror of tow vehicle. However, I noticed it does not include the park name/address/phone number. Therefore, we use a card that indicates the RV park name, address, phone, spot number and emergency contact phone number so if we have a ‘major’ accident while in the tow vehicle or TOAD while away from the RV park, the police will know where we are parked and who to contact. We also have ICE in our cell phone contacts.
Thank you for the information and discussion, Gail! Seems a very good idea. Will see if our local people offer such. Have a great week and safe travels!
Fill out the emergency information on your smart phone. There’s a spot for your emergency contacts, and for medical information. It can be set up to accessed from the lock screen on your phone. I would hope that in this day and age First Responders are trained to check for that info on the phone.