Florida Statutes 316.0271 – Yellow dot critical motorist medical information program; yellow dot decal, folder, and information form
Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates
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(1) The governing body of a county may create a yellow dot critical motorist medical information program to facilitate the provision of emergency medical care to program participants by emergency medical responders by making critical medical information readily available to responders in the event of a motor vehicle accident or a medical emergency involving a participant’s vehicle.
(2)(a) The governing body of a county may solicit sponsorships from business entities and not-for-profit organizations to cover the costs of the program, including the cost of decals and folders that must be provided free of charge to participants. Two or more counties may enter into an interlocal agreement to solicit such sponsorships.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 316.0271
- Person: means any individual, firm, company, agency, organization, partnership, corporation, association, trust, or other business entity of any kind whatsoever. See Florida Statutes 316.193
(b) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or the Department of Transportation may provide education and training to encourage emergency medical responders to participate in the program and may take reasonable measures to publicize the program.
(3) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle may request to participate in the program in the manner prescribed by the governing body of the county. A participant shall receive a yellow dot decal, a yellow dot folder, and a form on which the participant shall provide his or her personal and medical information.
(a) The form must include a statement that the information provided will be disclosed only to authorized personnel of law enforcement and public safety agencies, emergency medical services agencies, and hospitals for the purposes authorized in subsection (5).
(b) The form must describe the confidential nature of the medical information voluntarily provided by the participant and must include a notice to the participant stating that, by providing the medical information and signing the form, he or she agrees to the disclosure of the medical information to authorized personnel and their use of such information solely for the purposes listed in subsection (5).
(c) The county may not charge a fee to participate in the yellow dot program.
(4)(a) The participant shall affix the decal onto the rear window in the left lower corner of a motor vehicle or in a clearly visible location on a motorcycle.
(b) A person who rides in a motor vehicle as a passenger may also participate in the program but may not be issued a decal if a decal has been issued to the owner or lessee of the motor vehicle in which the person rides.
(c) The yellow dot folder, which shall be stored in the glove compartment of the motor vehicle or in a compartment attached to a motorcycle, shall contain a form with the following information about the participant:
1. The participant’s name.
2. The participant’s photograph.
3. Emergency contact information for no more than two persons.
4. The participant’s medical information, including medical conditions, recent surgeries, allergies, and current medications.
5. The participant’s hospital preference.
6. Contact information for no more than two physicians.
(5)(a) If the driver or a passenger of a motor vehicle is involved in a motor vehicle accident or emergency situation and a yellow dot decal is affixed to the vehicle, an emergency medical responder at the scene may search the glove compartment of the vehicle for the corresponding yellow dot folder.
(b) The use of the information contained in the yellow dot folder by an emergency medical responder at the scene is limited to the following purposes:
1. To positively identify the participant.
2. To ascertain whether the participant has a medical condition that might impede communications between the participant and the responder.
3. To access the medical information form.
4. To ensure that the participant’s current medications and preexisting medical conditions are considered when emergency medical treatment is administered for any injury to or condition of the participant.
(6) The governing body of a participating county shall adopt guidelines and procedures to prevent the public disclosure of confidential information through the program.