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The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)  
 
When an emergency squad arrives to help someone who is ill or who has been in an accident, rescuers typically know little about the medical history of the victim.

For people who have drug allergies and other special medical needs, that's a serious concern. If squad members administer the wrong treatment, it could make the patient's condition worse, even fatal.

Some people address this problem by wearing medical ID tags. Some fire departments cope by handing out refrigerator magnets that people can use to alert paramedics to these concerns. But in such cases, squad members don't find out about the special needs until they arrive.

An enterprising paramedic in Liberty Township in southern Delaware County, Lt. Bill Piwtorak, has started a registry for residents that will allow paramedics to find out about patients' special needs before they arrive. Now, people who choose to register with the township will be flagged when 911 calls from their houses come in, and paramedics will be able to tailor treatment to the patients.

The idea for a registry was sparked by the mother of an epileptic boy who requires an anti-seizure drug that the squads don't usually carry. Because the registry is voluntary, residents can give paramedics as much or as little medical information as they wish.

Each fire station has its own binder that lists residents with special needs. Soon, the registry will be computerized, which will make it easier to search and to keep up to date.

The more information paramedics have, the better job they can do treating patients. The registry will help to save lives in Liberty Township and could serve as a model for other emergency medical services teams.