A Vial of Life is a list of your medical history, current medications, and emergency contacts. You keep it on the fridge so paramedics can give you proper medical treatment during an emergency.
What Is a Vial of Life?
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Think of the Vial of Life as the longer version of a medical ID bracelet. Filling out a Vial of Life form is an important part of medical emergency preparedness. It’s not just for older adults—anyone who spends time alone should fill one out.
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Image: Cathy Habas, SafeWise
What kind of information is on a Vial of Life form?
The Vial of Life form includes the following sections:
- Your contact information, including date of birth, Social Security number, and primary language
- Health insurance information, including the company name and your policy or Medicare number
- The names and numbers of emergency contacts
- Your doctor’s name and phone number
- A section about power of attorney for your health care
- A section asking if you have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) or Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) on file
- An area for listing current medications/supplements and dosages
- Sections for allergies and medical conditions
- A catchall area on the back for other important medical information, such as any implanted medical devices or preferred hospitals

Image: Cathy Habas, SafeWise
What else should I put in my Vial of Life?
If you live with other people and there’s more than one Vial of Life on the fridge, tuck a recent photo of each person in front of the paperwork. It’ll help paramedics grab the right one.
Consider adding copies of this paperwork:
- Power of attorney
- DNR/POLST
- Recent EKG
- Living will
Vial of Life form and envelope from Bay Alarm Medical. Images: Cathy Habas, SafeWise
Where do I get a Vial of Life?
*Amazon.com list price current as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Forms are free to print out on the Vial of Life program website. After filling it out, fold it up, place it into a sandwich bag, and stick it to your fridge. If you go this route, you should also print out a red Vial of Life decal for the front of the sandwich baggie so emergency responders quickly recognize it.
If you’re in the market for a medical alert system, you can order a Vial of Life with your equipment. Bay Alarm Medical, GetSafe, and are a few of the medical alert companies that offer the Vial of Life, and they typically charge less than $10 for it.
Finally, you can buy the medical information form plus storage folders online from companies like StoreSMART.
Where is the Vial of Life kept?
Keep the Vial of Life on your fridge, since this is where most first responders know to look for it. It’s also smart to keep an extra copy in your glove box, purse, or wallet.

Image: Cathy Habas, SafeWise
Where should the Vial of Life decal be posted?
Vial of Life kits may also come with a decal or sticker. Place it in a window on your front door or in a front-facing window so that EMS personnel know you have one.
Most emergency responders are trained to look for a Vial of Life on the refrigerator even if there’s no decal on the front door, but it doesn’t hurt to display it.
Why is it called a Vial of Life?
Vial of Life is sometimes written as Vial of L.I.F.E., where “life” stands for “Lifesaving Information for Emergencies.” Originally the forms were tucked into a plastic container like an old pill bottle, hence the name “vial.” An alternative name is File of Life, reflecting the current trend of keeping this form in a folder.
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Disclaimer
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