'Plan in a Can' emergency kits introduced; Elmhurst to join DuPage County pedestrian safety day

Alderman Veramis introduced a redesigned "Plan in a Can" emergency-medical kit at the Elmhurst City Council meeting on May 19, urging residents — particularly seniors — to use the kit to store vital health information and personal items for first responders.

Veramis said the kit is intended to give first responders rapid access to medical conditions, allergies, medications, emergency contacts and advanced directives. He recommended residents place the can on top of their refrigerator because first responders are trained to look in that location. He thanked Chief Dufort, Deputy Chief Reynolds and Lauren Wolf for their assistance and acknowledged a grant from Endeavor Health that funded the initiative.

Alderman Veramis said the kit offers “quick access to vital information, reduced treatment delays, enhanced patient safety, streamlined communication, and access to personal items such as medications, glasses and hearing aids.” He encouraged aldermen and residents to share the resource with seniors and other vulnerable community members and to contact him or Lauren Wolf for questions or to obtain kits.

Separately, the city manager reported that Elmhurst staff have been working with DuPage County on a countywide safety action plan for pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The city will participate in a safety-action demonstration day at York and the Prairie Path; the county and volunteers will be on site to demonstrate safety projects. The event was moved one day because of weather and is scheduled as a day-of-safety action planning demonstration from about 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The announcements did not require a council vote; both items were presented as updates and community outreach. City staff and county engineers will be available at the demonstration for residents to see potential safety improvements in person.