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1. What is the File of L.I.F.E.?

The  File of L.I.F.E. is Lifesaving Information For Emergencies. The File of L.I.F.E. kit is a small magnetic pouch that holds your vital medical information that can be placed on the outside of your refrigerator. This enables emergency medical personnel to quickly locate helpful information regarding your medical history in a time of crisis. It is very important that you keep this information up to date, accurate, and placed prominently on your your refrigerator.

2. Who should use the File of L.I.F.E.?

The File of L.I.F.E is designed for people with special medical conditions such as, heart conditions, prior stroke, seizures, and respiratory conditions. This is also for people who may have a serious allergy to any medications or have any other life threatening allergies. In an emergency every minute counts. Allergies, medications and medical conditions can all have deadly consequences.

3. How do I use the File of L.I.F.E.?

The form has three sections: Basic information, Medical History and List of Medications. Complete the form as much as you can, so in case of an emergency, the Fire Department can assist you better. The form also has more detailed instructions. Make sure you read and complete the form thoroughly.

Find out how!

4. Why should I use the File of L.I.F.E.?

The File of L.I.F.E. program enables emergency responders, such as firefighters, paramedics, etc. to respond quickly to an emergency situation by accessing your medical history. Emergency personnel will know to look for the File of L.I.F.E. on your refrigerator to help them access this life saving information in an emergency situation. If you are unconscious or unavailable to provide this important information to emergency personnel, the File of L.I.F.E. will give this information for you. The File of L.I.F.E. can save lives.

5. Where do I get the File of L.I.F.E.?

You can download the File of L.I.F.E. below or you can pick one up from the Gilroy Fire Department Headquarters located at 7070 Chestnut Street, Gilroy, CA.  

File of L.I.F.E - English  

File of L.I.F.E - Spanish

6. How do I get a File of L.I.F.E. if I am not ambulatory?

If you are unable to pick up a File of L.I.F.E. from your local fire station, you can send a family member or friend on your behalf to pick one up from the Gilroy Fire Department Headquarters located at 7070 Chestnut Street, Gilroy, CA. You can also download a File of L.I.F.E. by clicking on one of the below links:

File of L.I.F.E - English 

File of L.I.F.E. - Spanish

7. How do I get more information about the File of L.I.F.E.?

If you have any other questions you can contact us at 408-846-0370.

8. Should I include a sample of medication in my File of L.I.F.E.?

Please do not include a sample of the medication you are taking in your File of L.I.F.E. On the form, please list the medications you are taking, as well as the dosage and how often you take your medicine. This is the kind of information that is helpful to emergency responders.

9. Why do I need to fill out my File of L.I.F.E form in pencil?

It is important to fill out your File of L.I.F.E. form in pencil, so that you can easily make changes about your medications, emergency contacts or your medical history. It is very important to keep this information current. 

10. What do I do if my medical information changes?

Use a pencil to erase the old information and rewrite the new information in its place. It is not necessary to contact the Fire Department every time you update your File of L.I.F.E. form. If you need another form you can download it below, or you can pick up another one from the Gilroy Fire Department Headquarters located at 7070 Chestnut Street, Gilroy, CA.

File of L.I.F.E. - English

File of L.I.F.E. - Spanish

11. Is the File of L.I.F.E. used in all cities?

The File of L.I.F.E. program is known internationally, however, it may not be available in every city. We have adapted this program specifically for the residents of the Gilroy community.

12. Can I get a File of L.I.F.E. for a friend that does not live in Gilroy?

Since the File of L.I.F.E. has been made available through the Gilroy Fire Department, it was intended to target residents with serious health conditions in the Gilroy community only. Unfortunately, our resources for this program only allow us to provide this program to Gilroy residents. People that live outside the City of Gilroy are encouraged to contact their local Fire Department or local health care facilities to obtain more information about whether a program like this has been developed for their area.

13. What do I do if there is more than one File of L.I.F.E. user in the same residence?

If you have more than one person in your residence that qualifies for this program, just keep all of the forms in the same magnetic pouch /file on the refrigerator. It is not necessary to have a pouch/file for each person. Make sure to attach a recent picture to your form to distinguish each user.

14. Why should I include a photo with my File of L.I.F.E. form?

It is important to include a recent photo with your File of L.I.F.E. form to distinguish between users. Even if you live alone, it is important to include a recent photo with your form just in case you happen to have guests stay in your home. By including a recent photo you can be sure that there is no confusion for emergency personnel.

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1. What do firefighters do while they are waiting for a fire or other emergency?

Firefighters have many other duties in addition to responding to emergencies. They spend a lot of
their time training for structure and wild land fire attack, motor vehicle crash extrication, rope rescue, interior search and rescue, emergency medical incidents, along with OSHA required training and other training for a variety of other different types of calls and situations they respond to. They also do commercial inspections, station and apparatus maintenance, school tours and demonstrations, public education, as well as participate on fire department and county committees and meetings.

2. What schedule do firefighters work?

A Gilroy firefighter's shift is 48 hours long. They work a rotating 6 day cycle of 48 hours on duty with 4 days off in between averaging 56 hours per week. There are crews that staff 3 shifts (A-shift, B-shift, and C-shift) 24/7/365.

3. Why do fire engines and ambulances respond on emergency medical calls?

The answer is quality of care! The Gilroy Fire Department deploys 3 strategically located fire engines to maintain short response times. The private ambulance company responds as well to provide transportation to the hospital. We endeavor to give our residents the best care possible and always provide the closest fire engine to the emergency staffed with a Firefighter / Paramedic and 2 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), who fill the ranks of Fire Captain, Engineer and Firefighter.

This staffing enables the responding crew to simultaneously complete different tasks for the patient's care. For instance, when a patient has a heart attack, connecting the defibrillator, CPR, rescue breathing, starting an IV, and administering lifesaving medications may all need to be accomplished quickly and simultaneously in order to give the patient the best chance for survival. By having adequate personnel on hand the care of the patient is improved and the preparation time before transportation to the hospital is significantly shortened.

On some medical calls the fire engine may remain on the scene for family or a business’s assistance, but is available to respond to another emergency if another emergency call comes in.

4. Why do fire trucks with full lights and sirens go through a red light at intersections and then, after they go through, they turn off their lights and slow down?

Most likely, when you see an emergency vehicle with red lights and sirens go through an intersection and then slow down and turn the emergency lights off, they have been cancelled from the call to which they were responding by radios in the fire engine.

Often several units are dispatched to the same incident. The 1st unit may have arrived on the scene, assessed the situation and informed the dispatcher that a single engine could handle the emergency. All other responding units are then cancelled by radio and are available and ready to take another call.

5. Why do firefighters use chain saws to cut holes in the roof of a building that’s on fire?

This is called "vertical ventilation." There are two basic reasons for this practice. Dangerous superheated gases and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building. Unlike the movie versions of fires, it is impossible for firefighters to see in such an environment or for victims to survive. When a hole is cut in the roof, and the building is “vented,” the smoke and gases escape because heat and smoke rise. It increases the victim¹s chance for survival and makes it much safer and more efficient for the firefighters in the building to see and operate. It also reduces the possibilities of backdraft (explosion) and flashover.

Another reason for venting the roof is to see how far the fire has progressed. One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic. Heat and smoke rise into the attic where the fire can move quickly.

Firefighters may also go ahead of the fire on a roof and cut holes to access the attic to stop the fire from spreading through the attic.

6. Does the Fire Department service fire extinguishers?

The Fire Department does not service fire extinguishers. There are many fire extinguisher companies in the telephone book that have the proper equipment to service them.

7. When an emergency vehicle is approaching that is displaying emergency lights and sirens, what should I do?

Please pull to the right and stop. Emergency response vehicles always try to pass vehicles on the left. This will allow fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles adequate and clear lanes to safely and quickly continue its response.

Remember to look before continuing as there may be more engines responding.

8. Why did I see another Fire Department’s fire engine in Gilroy?

The city participates in an ‘Auto-Aid’ Agreement with the South Santa Clara County Fire District (which is contracted and staffed by CalFire). The “District” has engines located strategically at Gilroy Gardens, Masten and 101, and a 3rd at Watsonville and Monterey. This agreement ensures rapid response from the closest engines and the covering of responses adjacent to the city when one of the other engines is busy on other emergency calls.

The City of Gilroy is also a member of the California Mutual Aid System. This is an agreement that allows Gilroy to call for support, additional resources, and specialized teams if they are needed. It also allows other cities and towns to request Gilroy assets similarly when needed.

9. Why do so many fire trucks respond to simple incidents?

Fire Department units are dispatched according to information received by the 911 operator. The Gilroy Fire Department responds with adequate resources when they are responding to a citizen in need of help. In other words, the firefighters are prepared to deal with the worst case scenario based on the information received. It is likely that in a time critical emergency situation, requesting more units after discovering that there¹s a need after we arrive, will be too late. We have learned from experience that it is much better to cancel fire engines after we determine that they¹re not needed than it is to call for more fire engines after finding that we need more.

A structure fire requires a significant number of firefighters to simultaneously to do all of the assigned tasks that are needed to maintain firefighter and citizen safety. Firefighting teams are assigned certain responsibilities such as fire extinguishment, search and rescue, ventilation, salvage, safety, accountability and rapid intervention.

10. Why do fire trucks respond to motor vehicle accidents?

There are 2 reasons. First, vehicle accidents present other hazards such as potential fire, ruptured fuel tanks, and/or the presence of hazardous materials, downed power lines, and other potential hazards. Second, Gilroy firefighters are trained as Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. The Fire Department, due to its strategic station locations, is usually on scene well before the County ambulance. The fire crew will assess the situation, call for additional resources, rescue victims, and prepare them for ambulance transport before the ambulance arrives. Additionally, the county civilian ambulance service is not equipped or trained for the rescue and hazards work that firefighters provide.