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MedicAlert Foundation to Offer 24-Hour Emergency Medical Information Services for Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Inc.

Posted on: Thursday, 1 October 2009, 17:00 CDT

Services Will Benefit the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community and Their Loved Ones

TURLOCK, Calif., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MedicAlert Foundation, the leader in providing identification and emergency medical information services, will provide a 24-hour comprehensive protection system for clients and staff of Deaf Community Services of San Diego through a generous grant made possible by the Change a Life Foundation.

"MedicAlert Foundation was originally founded to protect members in times of medical emergencies. This program goes right to the heart of our mission and history. Our 'We speak for you' campaign embodies the alliance with Deaf Community Services of San Diego," said Dr. Martin Kabat, President and CEO of MedicAlert Foundation.

MedicAlert(R) emergency response services provide a comprehensive program that can safeguard and identify Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in an emergency. Each individual enrolled in the program will be provided with a personalized MedicAlert ID and wallet card. These will provide emergency responders with the individual's identification and other critical information, such as medical conditions or life-threatening allergies. All calls to the MedicAlert 24-hour emergency response hotline are answered by MedicAlert Foundation staff who are prepared to provide vital information to first responders.

Through the MedicAlert emergency information services program, a person can register family members or others as emergency contacts. By registering, individuals are reassured that those designated will be notified in the event of an emergency.

According to its Executive Director, Leslie Elion, "Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Inc., has been providing indispensable services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community for over 35 years. We are very excited to expand our efforts to our constituents and their families through this valuable new program. The collaboration with Change a Life Foundation and MedicAlert Foundation promises to bring peace of mind to many who face communication barriers in society, and may save lives as well."

About Change a Life Foundation

Our Mission is to significantly help individuals and families who, through no fault of their own, have experienced an injury, illness, or catastrophic life event, and who are suffering financial hardship, by providing support for critically needed direct services that promote their self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life. Our Strategy is to fund restricted grants to pre-selected nonprofit organizations who identify clients through case management. The individuals find themselves in a catastrophic life situation that is no fault of their own and need a hand up to move them forward towards self-sufficiency and continued independence.

About Deaf Community Services of San Diego

Founded in 1974 to provide needed services to the Deaf community, Deaf Community Services of San Diego, Inc. (DCS) offers an array of programs that promote independence, opportunity, accessibility and diversity. These include mental health counseling, peer counseling, employment skills and career development, interpreting services, information and referral services, literacy instruction, media outreach, and community education forums. All services are accessible in American Sign Language and other modes of communication. For over 35 years, the agency has served as a one-stop resource and central clearinghouse on issues involving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in San Diego and Imperial Counties. For more information, go to www.dcsofsd.org.

About MedicAlert Foundation

MedicAlert Foundation pioneered the first medical identification and emergency medical information service in 1956 to provide people with a simple but effective method for communicating their medical conditions. Since the organization's founding, MedicAlert has provided services and products that help to protect and save lives for its 4 million members worldwide. For more than 50 years, the nonprofit has relayed vital medical information on behalf of its members to emergency responders so they receive faster and safer treatment. MedicAlert IDs alert emergency personnel to a member's primary health conditions. In addition to its 24-hour emergency response service, MedicAlert also provides family and caregiver notification so that members can be reunited with their families. For more information, visit www.medicalert.org.

SOURCE MedicAlert Foundation

Source: PR Newswire

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