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caught on like wildfire. Requests for vials began flooding in from surrounding municipalities. With more than 2,000 vials already out in the community, the campaign information as medical or physiâ€" ulml:*eh-m. 8 other emergency person: :lwhohvurtived&theune an emergency, Gerling has found it frustrating being unable to find information about the person lying unconscious on the floor. Vlluf;bh time is wasted searching identification and It was just such an incident that caused C:'rhng to look for a thod idi M needed information. Gerling was called to a home last spring where an elderly woman . lived. Family members could not get a response by phone and the house where she lived was â€"securily locked from Gerling forced his way into the house to find the woman lyi unconscious onmfl:e floor wi{;nz failing pulse. family. memâ€" bers who reported the‘ incident were in a state of shock and unable to cooperate. Gerling, a 22â€"year veteran, perâ€" formed CPR and stabilized her condition until ambulance attenâ€" dents arrived. The woman recovâ€" ered. But left with that awful feeling of frustration and helpâ€" lessness, Gerling sought a soluâ€" tion to the problem. Using a vial to store medical information isn‘t a new idea, he explained. The program has been used in other parts of Canada and the U.S., however it‘s never been tried locally. After Gerling presented the idea to a group of seniors in New Hamburg last fall, the program m‘;m 1 Waterioo Regional Police displays the poster and some of the vials he has prepared for the Emergency Information Vial program. Vials are available at police and fire stations. feobel Lawson photo had gone region wide. running little effort is required to How large the program can keep it rolling. grow is restricted only by the _ For Gerling, who has clocked interest â€" Gerling ordered 10,000 more than 275 hours of his own vials and has placed about oneâ€" time talking to groups, preparing third of them at fire departments _ vials and distributing them, there and police stations where the is a feeling that the program can public can pick them up. With save lives without infringing National Trust as a corporate . upon anybody‘s sense of privacy. sponsor assuming the tab for the ‘ As well, Gerling said, the proâ€" vials, stickers and information â€" gram falls into line with communâ€" form, there is no direct cost to the ityâ€"based policing. This is someâ€" public. i thing the police can offer to the Once the program is up and thing the police can offer to the community. running little effort is required to keep it rolling. For Gerling, who has clocked more than 275 hours of his own time talking to groups, preparing vials and distributing them, there is a feeling that the program can save lives without infringing upon anybody‘s sense of privacy. As well, Gerling said, the proâ€" gram falls into line with communâ€" ityâ€"based policing. This is someâ€" SIMPLY: _ "THE BEST IN SHOE REPAIR SERVICE!" CBusteneo MAershall 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. At the home of Neil & Bernice Astley 212 Holborne Drive, Kitchener (Staniey Park area) 893â€"4263 or 632â€"7955 WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY APRIL 5, 1989 â€" PAGE 5 SPRING OPEN HOUSE Meet Christine SUNDAY, APRIL 9"* While you wait service available Hours: Mon.â€"Fri. 9â€"6; Sat. 9â€"3 744â€"7041 FINE ART BY You are invited to an ‘"OPEN HOUSE" exhibit to see this and other images and a sneak preview 18" X 21" __ by GREAT BLUE HERON AN ORIGINAL Spring 1989 Releases