Emergency capsule to save lives
A MESSAGE in a bottle is being employed as an emergency detail lifesaver, thanks to a partnership between the police, civic agencies and a service club.
The Community Safety Partnership in Oadby and Wigston is working with Leicestershire Constabulary and The Lions to roll out the scheme across the whole of the county.
People can go into their local police station, including Hinckley’s Upper Bond Street centre, to pick up the specially designed bottle which is left in the fridge and within which is stored useful information in the event of an emergency.
The initiative is a marriage of two existing schemes - the Herbert Protocol and the Lions Message in a Bottle idea.
The first encourages family, friends and carers to put together details which can be used if a person with demen- tia goes missing. This might include information about medication required, mobile numbers and places previously visited.
The second is a simple idea to get everyone to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form in a common and easily accessible location - the fridge.
Combining the two projects means vital and useful information is kept on one form in one location making it easy for responders dealing with an emergency.
The bottles are kept in the fridge and a sticker is placed on the inside of the front door and on the fridge door.
Emergency services will then locate the bottle in the fridge and use the forms inside to quickly access information about that person’s routines, medical requirements and favourite places they have visited. This ensures people are treated quickly which can save time and lives.
The Lions have provided 6,000 bottles which have been funded by Oadby and Wigston Community Safety Partnership and a local sponsor, and can be picked up for free from any police station with a front enquiry desk.
Inspector Mike Cawley, Commander of South Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area, said: “This is a simple idea to encourage everyone to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form in a common location - the fridge.
“We work very closely with Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and I’m really grateful to them and the local Lions Club for their support in getting this scheme rolled out across our area as well as the whole force.
This scheme can save lives so I’d urge people to pick up a bottle and fill in the form.”