Scunthorpe Lions provide life-saving 'message in a bottle' kits to help paramedics on call outs
FOUR hundred life-saving "message in a bottle" kits are available to people with serious health conditions in North Lincolnshire.
The free handouts by Scunthorpe Lions are helping paramedics treat casualties more quickly.
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Scunthorpe Lions Dave Briggs and Malcolm Jackson with "messagew in a bottle" kits
The message in a bottle is a small green tube, which people fill with important medical details that a paramedic or first responder needs to know.
It is then placed in the fridge and a corresponding sticker is placed in the window next to the front door.
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The idea has received high praise from ambulance workers, whose job is made easier by the scheme.
A spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) said: "This is a very simple and cheap scheme but it's highly effective.
"When paramedics arrive at someone's address, they often have difficulty obtaining information from the patient – especially if no-one who knows them well is there.
"The 'message in a bottle' scheme allows them to quickly find out key information about the patient's medical history and then provide the correct treatment.
"We are very grateful that the Lions are promoting this initiative and give it our full support."
Scunthorpe Lions have given out almost 1,500 bottles in the last five years, all in Scunthorpe and the surrounding areas.
The information provided in the bottles includes where people keep medication and latest prescriptions, contact details, major medical conditions, personal doctor and anything considered necessary that would need attention in the first critical moments.
Dave Briggs, a long-serving member of Scunthorpe Lions, said: "All emergency services know about the 'message in a bottle', which makes them so important.
"If they know there is a message in a bottle at an address, then the paramedics will know to go straight to the fridge.
"It tells them instantly what to do and those few seconds can make a huge difference. It could potentially save someone's life.
"They are a fantastic idea and are especially good for elderly people and those living alone."
The "message in a bottle" capsules are paid for by Scunthorpe Lions and available to anybody that wants one.
The Lions currently have 400 available and are keen to hand them out to anyone who is interested. For more information contact malcolm.jackson1@ntlworld.com
A small number are available for readers to collect from the Scunthorpe Telegraph offices at 4-5 Park Square, Laneham Street, Scunthorpe, DN15 6JH, between 10am and 2pm on weekdays.
Comments
by IT_MAN
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 6:09PM
“gordonio I know you mean good but when illness takes away all the things you could do and you are left alone to struggle and suffer there is no point wasting services other people would enjoy getting, life is not everlasting so when things get bad euthanasia is best, sounds bad but it's not in fact it'sbetter than the horrible new pathway system which the doctors do not understand, why suffer that.
Lives do a great job for those who want to keep living as long as they can.”
by gordonio
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 3:36PM
“IT_MAN - to be honest your post has upset me a bit, emotionally I mean, the way you seem to be so accepting of your own mortality. I hope you have many happy, healthy years before you. Kind regards Antonia xx”
by IT_MAN
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 12:03AM
“I think gordonio got it right, make it normal procedure to allways check fridge as soon as you enter the house.
Is there a way to opt out of any resusitation as when my heart stops I want it to stay stopped, I have one of your tubs in top of fridge door with a poster in telling anyone what not to do, also at my bedside and other places in house.
The state can have the rest of my pension if I can pop off peacefully without pain.”
by dellboy1959
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 4:25PM
“Or better still why not put the sticker on the fridge,simples.”
by gordonio
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 9:46AM
“The idea is great, but I'm very wary about elderly and vulnerable people having stickers in their windows, this is almost asking to be targeted by the scum in our society who feed off them.
Perhaps if the medics concerned just went to the fridge as a matter of course, I'm sure no one would feel their privacy had been invaded.”