August 2006
Contact: Dorothy Wills-Raftery
(845) 255-1400 xt. 1209

Ulster BOCES Nursing Students Make a Difference with Vial of Life Program

Ulster BOCES School of Practical Nursing students (left to right) Richard Crawley, Eileen Rosman, Nicole Van Vlack, and Rosalba Roldan of Kingston; Mary O'Toole of Wappingers Falls; Patricia Castanio of Gardiner

A simple decal on a resident’s door can quickly come to the aid of a person in distress, and the Ulster BOCES Practical Nursing (PN) students want to ensure community members have the tools necessary to participate in the life-saving program.

The Vial of Life, a national non-profit organization provides a universal method for emergency personnel to quickly identify existing medical conditions and prescription drug use of a person in need of emergency treatment. A person’s medical history is immediately available in a special container that is stored in the refrigerator or freezer. A Vial of Life decal is placed on both the appliance’s door and residence door to alert responding emergency personnel of the vial’s existence.

Spearheaded by two Ulster BOCES students who recently graduated from the School of Practical Nursing program, Eileen Rosman of Kingston and Debra Sinagra of Hurley, the Vial of Life program is now available in this area. Rosman tells a story of how the idea for Vials of Life was sparked. “One of my neighbors placed a call for EMT assistance. When they arrived, a neighbor came to get me as the EMTs needed information on the patient. I had no idea what medicine the person was on. I had no idea who the next of kin was. This is all important information that is needed in a critical situation, and if the person is not conscious, that information is not available.” After that incident, Rosman attended an Alzheimer’s conference where the Vials of Life were on display. “I thought there was such a need in the community,” she says. “This really caught my attention.”

Sinagra, who is an emergency medical technician (EMT) with Mobile Life Support Services of the Hudson Valley, hopes the program becomes more visible in the community. “The vials are not just for the elderly,” mentions Sinagra. “They can be utilized by people living alone or even be kept in the glovebox of a car in case of an accident. They are very beneficial in emergency situations.”

Launching the program was truly a collaborative community effort. The Ulster BOCES PN students worked in conjunction with Anne Cardinelli, coordinator of the Vials of Life program at Benedictine Hospital, who assisted them in developing an information form. Eckerd Pharmacy also donated hundreds of empty vials.

Recently, the students had an opportunity to share the program with the community during Kingston’s Mid-Town Make a Difference Day. While manning a booth, the students gave out information on the Vials of Life program and handed out the complimentary vials to passersby. New York City and part-time Ulster County resident Lorraine Monroe stopped by the Ulster BOCES booth and was impressed by the information she received from the students. “It is really important not to leave this type of thing to the last minute. I want to prevent panic for my family, especially my children, in case of an emergency. I feel this program is absolutely essential.”

According to Marita Kitchell, supervisor of Health Occupations and New Visions at Ulster BOCES, the students are required to complete 12 hours of community service each year as well as a project each quarter. “As a result of the students’ participation in activities such as Vials of Life, community and client healthcare needs are addressed.” Kitchell credits part-time nursing instructor Marcie Davis and the students for being the driving force behind the Vials of Life project. Adds Kitchell, “Ulster BOCES also has the great fortune of working with healthcare agencies that exemplify cooperation and collaboration. It comes as no surprise that our students, along with hospital affiliates, were able to spearhead the Vials for Life program.”