A yellow dot on the lower left corner of a car’s rear window could help save the owner’s life. That is if the owner is a participant in the Alabama Yellow Dot Program, which was kicked off in Lowndes County on Jan. 22.

Lowndes County became the 63 county in Alabama to launch the Yellow Dot Program for which the main goal is to “help save lives,” according to Lora Weaver, program coordinator for the Northeast Alabama Traffic Safety Office Alabama Yellow Dot Program.

What is it?

The Yellow Dot Program provides first responders to the scene of vehicle accidents or other medical emergencies with the identity and crucial medical information for program participants, Weaver pointed out.

In a press conference held at the Lowndes County Commission Auditorium in Hayneville, Sheriff John Williams partnered with the Hayneville Police Department, the Fort Deposit Police Department and the Lowndes County Volunteer Firefighters Association to introduce the program to county residents.

“I think this is a very important program that we’re bringing to Lowndes County, very important to the citizens of Lowndes County for one reason… when someone is involved in an accident they (first responders) would have the important information,” Williams said.

Weaver represented the Northeast Alabama Traffic Safety Office and the Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) at the Lowndes County program launch.

She said, “The main goal of the program is to help save lives.” She said it improves the communication between the emergency first responders and the citizens of the state of Alabama. And, she stressed, “It can be a voice for the injured when they are unable to speak for themselves.”

Weaver explained that the program allows first responders to have all the pre existing medical history and emergency contact information for participants so that they can immediately address the individual’s problems at the time they arrive on the scene of an accident.

She said enrollees into the program will receive a Yellow Dot Decal that goes on the bottom left corner of the rear window of their vehicle.

She said the Yellow Dot lets first responders know that person is a program participant and that if the person is unable to speak or think clearly, they know “they can go to the glove compartment” for the Yellow Dot folder that provides a photo of the individual for positive identification of the person to be treated.

Also included, she said, will be the name and contact information to contact family members and let them know where the person is to be transported, a list of the medications taken that day, pre existing medical conditions and allergies.

Weaver stressed, however, while there is a place for the name, age, address and phone number of the participant, “We do not ask for a birth date or Social Security Number on this form. We do not want to put anyone in danger of identity theft.”

She said there is also a place for physicians’ names and information for the children of young couples, which can also be included in the folder.

She said participants will be given one folder for each vehicle they own.

Weaver said there is also a decal for motorcycles that goes on the left corner of the license plate, and the folder can be placed into any storage compartment on the motorcycle.

Weaver said the program is free for everyone, not just senior citizens.

According to Weaver, four printers and cameras have been provided for Lowndes County at the John Hulett Detention Facility, Fort Deposit Police Department, Hayneville Police Department and Lowndes County Firefighters Association.

She said the one for the firefighters will allow volunteer fire departments to check out the equipment and take the program out into every community throughout the county.

Weaver thanked Sheriff Williams, Fort Deposit Police Chief Brandon Thomas and Chief Kelvin Mitchell of the Hayneville Police Department for partnering with the Lowndes County Firefighters Association.

She thanked Lowndes County Deputy Addre Bryant for coordinating the program through the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

Thomas said he thought the program would be a great asset providing medical information so when first responders arrive they will have the information they need. He said, “I’m very glad we’re participating.”

Rodney Rudolph, president of the Lowndes County Firefighters Association, said he brought the program to the attention of the Lowndes County Commission because it would be helpful in the event of a non-responsive patient.

Also present for the program kickoff were Lowndes County Chief Deputy Jamie Martin and Burkville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lamar Hall.