What
is 'Message in a Bottle'?
This
is a simple idea, designed to encourage people living
on their own to keep their basic personal and medical
details in a common location where they can be found
in an emergency. There is no cost to the user. Costs
are borne by the local Lions clubs and many generous
sponsors.
How
does the scheme work?
The
personal and medical information is kept in a small
plastic bottle, as on this picture. It is big enough
to hold the necessary information. The bottle has a
push fitting type of lid for ease of use. The bottle
is then kept in the fridge, where the emergency services
will expect to look for it in the event of being called
to your home. Two labels are included to apply to your
most used, outer door and the fridge door.
Bottles
can be obtained from any of the following:
- Health
Centres
- Doctors'
Sugeries
- Pharmacies
- Also
some other venues such as the Community Centre or
local churches.
BOTTLES
ON WHEELS?
Some
users have extended the use of the Message Bottle to
provide emergency information in the event of an accident
or illness away from home.
If
you should choose to keep a bottle in the car please
do the following:
- Keep
the bottle in the glove box
- Apply
one green cross label to the front of the glove box
and the other to the top left hand corner of the windscreen.
- Ensure
that a photograph of the owner is attached to the
form - to allow the emergency services to positively
identify the person to whom the information refers.
WHAT
INFORMATION IS NEEDED IN THE BOTTLE?
- Your
full name and brief physical description
- Name
of your GP with surgery address and telephone number
- Brief
description of any medical conditions that apply to
you.
- Names
and contact details of two people who are in agreement
to be contacted in the event of your illness or accident.
- Details
of any pets that may be on the premises, or with you,
who would need to be cared for if you were taken ill.
- In
addition it is strongly recommended that you include
your repeat prescription list.This would be of great
value to the emergency Paramedics who are able to
administer drugs, who need to know what you are already
taking in order to eliminate the risk of drug interaction.
The
form also has space for a passport-size photograph,
but this is only necessary to aid identification, when
there is more than one person living on the premises.
MEDIC/ALERT
TALISMAN
If
you have a specific medical condition and routinely
wear either a Medic Alert necklace or bracelet, or similar
items like an SOS Talisman, you should continue to wear
them, as the Message in a Bottle is not intended as
a replacement for these, but as an extra means of providing
information in emergency circumstances. |
