EMERGICARD COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE 

SIX MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A NEAT IDEA -- A CARD THE SIZE OF A CREDIT CARD THAT CONTAINS ONE'S LIFELONG ABBREVIATED MEDICAL RECORD -- ON A TINY MICRO-FICHE (SEE "ILLUSTRATIONS").

IN THESE TIMES OF HIGH STRESS FOR MANY OF OUR POPULATION, FAST ACTION BY PARA-MEDICS, AMBULANCE DRIVERS AND MEDICALLY-AWARE LAY PERSONS CAN GET HELP FAST. BUT, FINDING OUT WHO YOU ARE MEDICALLY CAN PROVIDE AS MUCH HINDRANCE TO YOUR HEALTH AS THE PARTICULAR ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS THAT STRIKES YOU DOWN. PHYSICIANS COULD GIVE YOU A MASSIVE DOSE OF ANTIBIOTICS FOR A FEVER, IF THEY KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO THEM. BUT HOW TO TELL IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN, BUT STATISTICALLY, LACK OF COMPLETE INFORMATION -- IN THE INFORMATION AGE -- CAN BE FATAL.

THIS CARD CAN HELP SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. I KEEP MINE IN MY APPOINT- MENT WALLET THAT GOES WITH ME EVERYWHERE. ON THE INSIDE COVER OF THAT WALLET IS A STICKER THAT TELLS YOUR UNKNOWN SAMARITAN WHERE TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT YOU (ANOTHER STICKER FOR YOUR MASERATI, YACHT, JET OR TOYOTA TRUCK WINDSHIELD IS ALSO PROVIDED). ALL THIS INFO IN YOUR WALLET? HOW, YOU ASK?

NOTICE THE SMALL LENS, MADE FROM OPTICAL-QUALITY PLASTIC, ON THE BOTTOM LEFT SIDE OF THE PICTURE. IT IS RIGHT OPPOSITE THE BLACK MICRO-FILM ON THE LOWER RIGHTHAND SIDE OF THE CARD. YOU MERELY BEND THE CARD IN HALF SO THAT THE LENS IS ABOUT ONE INCH FROM THE MICRO- FILM. TO FOCUS SLOWLY CHANGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LENS AND THE FILM. ALL THE DATA ON THE MEDICAL FORM IS THEN READABLE. AMAZING HOW MUCH INFORMATION YOU CAN GET ON AN OVERSIZED FORM THAT IS THEN REDUCED TO THAT FINGERNAIL-SIZED PIECE OF FILM.

THE EASTER SEAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO HAVE BEEN SELLING THESE CARDS AS A FUND-RAISING SCHEME. FOR US $11, THEY SEND YOU THE MEDICAL FORM WHICH YOU AND/OR YOUR DOCTOR FILL OUT. IT IS THEN SENT TO THE NATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY AWARENESS CENTER AND EVENTUALLY YOUR OWN "EMERGICARD" GETS BACK TO YOU. ALTHOUGH THEIR CARD-PRODUCING SERVICE IS NOT SWIFT, THE CARD MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE ONCE YOU GET IT. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO WAIT MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS LIKE I DID, YOU COULD DIE IN THE INTERIM. WHEN SOMEONE SENDS THEM A COPY OF THIS STORY, MAYBE DELIVERY PACE WILL QUICKEN.... MORE INFORMATION: EASTER SEAL SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 6221 GEARY BOULEVARD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. TEL 415/752-4888.

NATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY AWARENESS CENTER, P.O. BOX 3559, ABILENE, TEXAS 79604-3559. UPDATING FORMS AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER:

CREATIVE MARKETING UNLIMITED, 4670 N. EL CAPITAN #211-C, FRESNO, CA 93711. TEL 209/275-3678. INCLUDES NEW FILM RECORD.

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