Self-isolators urged to place alert flags in see page window
The Oban Times has teamed up with Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee to encourage people to use a community alert initiative to help vulnerable self-isolators to communicate with the world outside.
A simple idea, which has already been deployed successfully in other communities, the initiative involves asking members of the community to display a poster, or use the template on this page, in the most prominent window of their house which will signify their general wellbeing to their neighbours.
A green thumbs up with a tick will mean that everything is OK, while a red thumbs down with a cross will indicate that the person in the house needs non-medical assistance in some way.
Councillor Julie McKenzie commented: ‘My colleagues and I on the area committee are working together and wanted to provide some reassurance to everyone in our community at this really difficult time, and we know that this initiative is already working well in other places.
‘We want to appeal to as many people as possible to take part by displaying a thumb in the window, and in particular reach out to the most vulnerable in the community, who must be feeling particularly isolated at the moment, to give them a wee bit of reassurance by providing a visual method of communicating a need for support.
‘We hope the community will get behind us on this and would like to thank The Oban Times for assisting us to make it happen.
‘We will also make sure that further thumbs are provided free of charge for anyone who wishes to take part.’
OLI area committee want to make it clear that the initiative is a community assistance one and is not to replace a call for medical support.
‘Hopefully, by doing this it will mean that anyone who is feeling particularly vulnerable or isolated will be more visible to others in the community in which they live,’ added Ms McKenzie.
Posters are available to members of the community to download and print off at home by emailing editor@ obantimes.co.uk or check out our Facebook page.