For emergency responders, little things can make a big difference. A patient who accidentally forgets to mention an allergy or a medication can drastically worsen their situation when emergency medical technicians start treatment without all the information. A few seconds saved when paramedics arrive on scene can be the difference in life and death on the way to a hospital.

So to help save time and make sure information is available whether a patient is in shock — or unconscious — the Bigfork Quick Response Unit is giving out tiny "File of Life" packets that they hope will make a difference when they arrive on scene.

"We wanted to try this, and it's worth it if it saves just one life," said QRU member Tony Turk.

Each packet — they are free, though the QRU is accepting donations to offset the cost — contains a sticker to be placed on an individual's front door, a large card in a magnetized folder for the refrigerator and a wallet-sized card. On each form is personal information like the name and contact information for a primary physician, any medications being taken and their quantities and a simple medical history.

Turk said the most important part of the form is the medications portion because people taking many different drugs might not remember to name them all in a stressful situation.

"The biggest problem we have right now is it's hard to get all the medications people are taking," he said. "Some people are taking 15 or 20 different drugs."

That's important to first responders because it effects what medications they are able to give a patient because of the potential for adverse reactions by other treatments.

The idea then, according to Turk, is that first responders arriving at a residence would see the sticker on the front door and while one medic would immediately go to the victim, another would know to check the refrigerator where they could find the forms.

"It's not just for the elderly," cautioned Turk, who has forms on his refrigerator for himself, his wife and his two children. "It's just for anyone who wants to make their medical history known to the EMS when we get there."

No known allergies, medications or history of health problems? There's a check box for that, too, and that knowledge can be just as important as knowing about issues.

"With these (packets' going out, a lot of us are going to be looking for them a lot more," Turk said.

"File of Life" packets are available at the Bigfork Fire Hall as well as a few locations around town. Bigfork Harvest Foods has them at the customer service counter, Bigfork Drug has them at the pharmacy counter and they are available at both Dr. Tom Jenko's office and the Bigfork Wellness Center in Jewel Basin Court.

For more information or for help with questions about the program, contact the Bigfork QRU at 837-4590.