BONDURANT, Iowa — Bondurant Emergency Services is now partaking in the Vial of Life program in hopes to improve on-site paramedic care.

The Vial of Life program has been around for decades, but it’s not necessarily offered by every emergency service department around the country.

Bondurant Emergency Services is hoping that adding this program will help their first responders provide better care to patients in the field.

Anthony Rauterberg, the Assistant Chief with Bondurant Emergency Services, says this program makes sure paramedics have vital information for patient care.

“It makes it easier,” said Rauterberg. “When the paramedics arrive on scene and the patients are not able to communicate, that they can grab information off their fridge.”

The sheet asks for a variety of information that makes it easier and faster for paramedics to identify possible issues and provide complete care while in the field.

“Name, their address, phone numbers for family, contacts, medications, any allergies, medical history, that kind of stuff,” said Rauterberg.

The sheet only takes a few minutes to complete and should be placed on the refrigerator in a visible space for easy access.

He says if paramedics are aware of possible conditions or medications it allows them to provide care immediately instead of waiting.

“To get rapid information right away to the paramedics without having to have delay of care or trying to figure out and find out that someone’s allergic to a medication or something,” said Rauterberg.

Bondurant is one of the first metro emergency responder organizations to offer this service for the community, but they still encourage others in the metro to fill out the sheet.

“I think any (paramedics) in the area probably would look for some sort of informational sheet when they arrive on scene,” Rauterberg.”

Families wishing to partake in the program should contact Bondurant Emergency Services or access the form online.