If someone is involved in a car accident, it takes an average of four hours to identify and notify the next of kin. While EMTs and doctors are stabilizing the patient with critical care, there is no time to locate family or medical records.

Carole’s father told her how agonizing  it was to not know where she was while searching for her that night.

“Once I had a child, I understood just how devastating it is for a parent to not know where your child is,” Carole says. “It’s not acceptable in this day and age.”

DMV records are sometimes 10 years old, she explains, and list only home phone numbers. “There is no protocol to identify and contact the next of kin. Someone had to shake it [the system] up.”

After five years of research and development, Carole founded ContactPlates, an identification tag printed on a 2-inch-by 3-inch magnetic anodized metal plate that adheres to the inner sash of the driver’s side door. It contains critical driver information including physical description, birth date, immediate contact information, allergies, medical conditions, and if they are a registered organ donor.

“I based my business plan on the Tot Finder [program],” she explains. As such, a small sticker on the windshield alerts EMTs about the car’s ContactPlate. “It had to be easily accessible, portable and contain all information for immediate care,” Carol adds.

“The prototype went through a lot of variations and I interviewed hundreds of EMTs, firefighters and law enforcement officers on how ContactPlates could make their job easier,” says Carol. “They only have seconds to save a life.” 

The ContactPlate goes from the accident scene to the hospital with the victim. The EMT removes the card from the car door and affixes the magnetized card to their metal clipboard, saving hours of investigative work for hospital personnel who use any means necessary, including Google, to find information about the victim.

Carole also devised a unique solution for a decision that nobody likes to make. People ordering ContactPlates can register as organ donors through a link on the site to the National Transplant Society. “Taking the decision out of your loved ones’ hands can make things a lot easier on them by not making them face the decision of donating your organs,” she says. “You have to think about the big picture. [Organ donation] is the ultimate recycling program. You have to give back at some point. It only takes two minutes to become an organ donor nationally.” People can also fill out health care proxies online listing their wishes for medical treatment.

ContactPlates cost $18 each, and $5 of every sale can be donated to schools, church groups, fire, police, EMT or other fund-raising organizations. Money is raised via an 

e-mail campaign, using a ContactPlates coupon code unique to the fund-raising organization, so it can offer a life-saving product while generating revenue.

ContactPlates have been endorsed by many first responders, including Dennis Smith, former NYC firefighter and founder of Firehouse Magazine, the highest-circulation firefighters magazine worldwide, and the American Association of State Troopers.

Carol says, “I have been dedicating my life over the past few years to making mothers and fathers aware that they can save lives in just a few minutes and protect their family with this informative device.” Her mission is to have a ContactPlate in every car in America.  

For more information go to www.contactplates.com, or call 631-875-7366.

If you know a super woman who deserves good Fortune—and a profile—e-mail your nominations to Beverly at bfortune@longislandpress.com.