Junior Ambulance Corps

Kicks Off Project At Senior Center

By Nancy K. Crevier

Members of the Newtown Junior Ambulance Corps were at the Newtown Senior Center Wednesday, February 22, from 10:30 am to 1 pm, to aid seniors in filling out or updating their File of Life folders.

The File of Life form lists personal emergency and medical information and is inserted into a magnetic holder. When adhered to the home refrigerator, the File of Life serves as a means to convey crucial information to medical responders when a patient is unable to respond or is unconscious. 

“Lots of times, people get the File of Life, but don’t fill them out 100 percent,” said Deb Aubin, a member of the Newtown Ambulance Corps and Junior Corps Ambulance supervisor. “Having the Junior Corps here at the Senior Center today is good for the seniors and it is good experience taking medical histories for the Junior Corps members.”

Jill Urciuoli, a Newtown Ambulance Corps trainee, and Lori Beth Pavone, a senior corps member, were also on hand to assist. Junior members not only helped seniors create a neat and legible file, but took blood pressure and pulse readings to be listed as baseline readings in the files.

“I think it is just wonderful,” said Senior Center member Florence DePalma. “These kids don’t have to be here today, doing this, but they are. It’s nice to see young people doing something so useful.”

According to Ms Aubin, the February 22 event was the kickoff to the Junior Ambulance Corps’ File of Life project. Starting this week, Junior Ambulance Corps members will be going out in teams of two to visit Newtown residents interested in starting or updating a File of Life, she said. Visits are by appointment only. To make an appointment, contact Deb Aubin at 426-6874.