Cleveland Department of Aging promotes free ‘File of Life’ to help during health emergencies

NewsMore information about the File of Life is available at www.thefileoflife.org.Getty ImagesBy Hannah Drown, cleveland.comcleveland.com Express DeskCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland residents can get a free File of Life form to help first responders quickly access important medical information during an emergency.The Cleveland Department of Aging highlighted the form Tuesday in a Facebook post, noting that people experiencing a medical emergency may be unable to tell firefighters or paramedics important information about their health.The File of Life is a simple form that includes information such as:MedicationsMedical conditionsAllergiesEmergency contactsDoctor’s informationOnce completed, the form should be placed somewhere first responders know to look, usually on a refrigerator.The form is designed to be easily recognized by first responders and is used in nearly 7,500 communities and more than 20 million homes, according to the File of Life organization.Cleveland residents can request a free File of Life by calling the Department of Aging at 216-664-4383. Forms are available in English, Spanish and Mandarin.More information about the File of Life is available at www.thefileoflife.org.Hannah Drown is cleveland.com's Lorain County reporter, covering the government decisions, economic development and community stories that directly impact residents' lives. Since joining cleveland.com in 2014,...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.