Article by Community Risk Reduction, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department
(Posted 2026 September)
Medical emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. In the event that the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) is called to respond to an emergency in your home or community, there are a few steps you can take to help yourself and the first responders during a medical emergency.
File of Life
The File of Life contains identification and medical information, including date of birth, languages spoken, emergency contact information, allergies, surgeries, and medications. The File of Life comes in two formats:
- The first can be kept in a pouch with a magnet on the back and kept on your refrigerator for easy access.
- The second is the Pocket File of Life that folds to fit into a wallet.
If you experience a medical emergency and require on-scene treatment and ambulance transport by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, the File of Life can help communicate important medical information to the first responders.
Here are a few tips:
- Use a pencil to complete your File of Life.
- Keep all information current!
- Take your File of Life to all medical appointments. Use the File of Life as a comprehensive, up-to-date list of all medications and conditions.
Keep copies of other medical information with your File of Life. For example, keep a detailed medication list behind the File of Life magnet sleeve on your refrigerator. - If multiple people in your home have a File of Life on the refrigerator, slide a picture of the corresponding person in the plastic sleeve to help first responders quickly match the information with the correct person.
Call or stop by a Fairfax County fire station to pick up a File of Life.
If you would like a training for a group about the File of Life, please contact FCFRD Community Risk Reduction/Life Safety Education (call 703-246-3801 or email fire.ESW@fairfaxcounty.gov). One of our Education Specialists can visit any location in Fairfax County to deliver a FREE 30-60 minute training and bring Files of Life for all attendees!
Emergency Health Profile
Communicating essential medical information to a 9-1-1 call taker during an emergency can be extremely stressful. The Emergency Health Profile is a free, secure, and easy-to-use platform that allows individuals to share critical information about their medical conditions with 9-1-1 call takers, which can aid firefighters and paramedics during an emergency.
The Emergency Health Profile is equivalent to an electronic version of the File of Life.
If you call 9-1-1 with the same number attached to your FREE account, your information will automatically load on a 911 call taker’s screen as they dispatch first responders to your location.
For more information, please see the September 2021 Golden Gazette article on Emergency Health Profile.
Sign up for the Emergency Health Profile.
Hospital Bag
Another step you can take to help yourself and your family in the event of a medical emergency is to keep a hospital bag ready to go by the main entrance of your home.
Here are some suggested hospital bag items:
- File of Life (medical history, medication list, and emergency contact numbers) and health-related legal documents
- Change of clothes and underwear
- Extra phone charger
- Extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
- Toiletries and personal care items (e.g., toothbrush, denture cleaning supplies)
- Hearing aid batteries
- Water and snacks
- Small bag for securing valuables, jewelry, etc.
- Small amount of cash or credit card
- Puzzles, books, entertainment
- Headphones or earplugs
- Label personal items with your name and attach a luggage tag with your name and phone number to the handle of the bag.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).