SPRING HILL - You may own one or have seen them in stores. A flat, miniature digital photo frame with an LCD display about one to two inches wide. Most hold 60 or more digital photos.
It connects to your computer like a digital camera and comes with software for uploading your favorite pictures. Attached to a keychain, this gives you a portable portfolio you can view whenever you like, and share with friends.
There's a new friend you may want to consider sharing certain digital images with - your friendly, potentially life-saving, emergency medical responder.
The Hernando Computer Club (HCC) claims credit for conceiving an innovative new use for the digital photo keychain. Using Microsoft Paint software, they design easily readable, customizable 'pictures' of information.
Like an emergency alert bracelet or I.D. tag, these digital screens contain important information that alert an emergency responder to your current medical conditions, medications and allergies.
Club president Brigitte Haag had a self-described 'epiphany' a few months ago. HCC was pondering a new dilemma: making emergency medical information readily available in a portable, digital format. Their original idea of storing information on flash drives (which are often sold on keychains) had not met with acceptance from emergency responders. Sheriffs and paramedics were concerned about computer viruses being on the drives.
Haag had purchased a digital photo keychain as a gift. She suddenly put two and two together and the emergency photo frame was born.
Elayne Woerpel was one of the first club members to have a frame programmed with her medical information. "If one life can be saved because of this ingenious idea, what a wonderful thing," she commented.
Vice president Ron Purkhiser said as a community service, four HCC instructors are donating their time to educate as many people as possible on this new opportunity: Haag, Purkhiser, Mich Morin and Gray Alexander.
Free classes are offered as either lecture or one-on-one training. Haag said it takes about 20 minutes to learn how to get your information into the digital format. Then the instructor walks away so individuals can enter their confidential data.
Because readability on such a small display is critical, each digital page uses a 44 to 50 point font size and a maximum of 6 to 8 lines of information.
While included information is up to the individual, HCC recommends the first screen be your close-up photograph and full name. They can take the photo. Subsequent screens display pertinent emergency data.
Joe Garda, firefighter and paramedic with Spring Hill Fire Rescue, was intrigued with the idea. He offered some emergency responder advice.
"The first thing we look for is a medical alert bracelet or chain," he stated. "If we don't find anything, we look for other sources of information. If we knew to look for a photo keychain we definitely would." Garda said it should be clearly labeled as containing emergency information, "I wouldn't think to turn it on otherwise."
He said the most important information is allergies you have (to medications, food or insects); medications you're taking (especially cardiac); and medical conditions like diabetes, previous cardiac history, pacemaker, etc.
Other recommended information is date of birth, emergency contact phone numbers and next of kin.
He said keeping the information current will be critical. "People's prescriptions change frequently," he cautioned. "Even the hospital may not have your most current medication information."
Adding a 'date updated' would increase confidence in the information. He acknowledged that if a person is diligent in keeping their device up to date, they will be doing the best job possible of helping an emergency responder make the right decisions.
Adding your doctor's name and phone number and emergency contacts could also save time and frustration at the hospital.
Garda cautioned against including your social security number or home address, but suggested people with dementia or Alzheimer's add nursing home or caregiver contacts.
Other medical information might include blood type, asthma, use of blood thinners, epilepsy/seizures, mental impairments, hypertension, surgeries (especially cardiac), stroke, transplants, rare diseases, etc.
Woerpel suggested including if you have a living will, healthcare proxy, DNR ('do not resuscitate' order), or power of attorney.
Purkhiser said some are including detailed prescription, supplement, insurance and other medical information for their own reference when visiting doctors. Some feel the device may prove indispensable in a natural disaster where power is out and/or medical records unavailable.
The club recommends plugging the keychain into a computer every couple of weeks to keep it charged. Reviewing your medical information at the same time is a good idea.
Digital photo keychain prices start at around $10 each and are widely available online and from local department, electronics and drug stores. HCC recommends purchasing a model that instantly displays photos when the power button is pushed, not those that open to a menu.
Keychain class size is limited to 16. Registrants are asked to purchase and charge the device prior to attending class. Most devices re-charge automatically when connected to a PC.
For More Info
The Hernando Computer Club is located at 8375 Spring Hill Drive in the Grace Presbyterian Church, Education Building B. They can be contacted at 352-684-7171, via e-mail at contact@hernandocomputerclub.org, or through their Web site ( www.hcc.org). All classes, club and community activities are detailed on the Web site.
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