Lions welcome ‘Be Emergency Ready’ initiative

The nationwide distribution of the Government’s new ‘Be Emergency Ready’ booklet has been welcomed by Claremorris and District Lions Club, which says much of its advice closely reflects the principles behind the club’s long-running ‘Message in a Bottle’ scheme.

Michael Clarke, coordinator of the 'Message in a Bottle' initiative locally, said the arrival of the booklet in homes throughout the country provides a timely opportunity for people to think about what would happen if an emergency occurred in their own home.

In particular, he welcomed the booklet’s emphasis on keeping important information readily available and maintaining contact with family, friends, neighbours and community organisations.

“The whole idea is to be prepared before something happens,” Michael told the Western People. “When there is an emergency, that is not the time to be trying to find out what medication somebody is taking, what medical conditions they have or who should be contacted. That information should already be there and easily accessible.”

That has been the thinking behind the Lions’ Message in a Bottle scheme, which provides people with a simple means of making important personal and medical information immediately available to emergency services.

“Participants receive a small plastic container, an information form and green cross stickers,” Michael said. “The form is completed with details which could be important in an emergency, including medical conditions, medication, allergies, GP information and emergency contacts. The completed form is then placed in the container and stored inside the door of the fridge. The fridge is used because it provides emergency personnel with a standard location in which to look. Rather than information being kept in a drawer, handbag or filing cabinet or an envelope somewhere which a paramedic could not reasonably be expected to search, everyone taking part in the scheme keeps it in the same place.” 

Green cross stickers are provided with the bottle and can be placed inside a front or back door, or in a suitable window, alerting emergency personnel to the fact that the household is participating.

“If something happens and the paramedics are called, they know to look in the fridge,” Michael said.

The scheme can be particularly useful for older people, people living alone and those with medical conditions, allergies or disabilities. However, Michael stressed that the basic principle of being prepared for an emergency has much wider relevance.

“A person who becomes unconscious or is otherwise unable to communicate may not be in a position to tell paramedics about an existing condition or the medication they are taking. Someone living alone may also have nobody immediately present who can provide that information,” Michael said. Having it written down and readily available can remove some of that uncertainty.

The Lions Club provides the bottles, forms and stickers free of charge as part of its community work.

Michael said the recently distributed ‘Be Emergency Ready’ booklet reinforces many of the same messages. Its advice encourages people to keep important emergency and family contact numbers in a safe and accessible place and to speak with neighbours about how they might assist one another and share information and resources during an emergency. 

Michael hopes householders will use the booklet as an opportunity to consider their own preparedness, keep essential information up to date and, where appropriate, avail of the 'Message in a Bottle' scheme.

“The important thing is to be prepared and to stay connected,” he said. “That is the message in the booklet and it is very much the message behind what we are doing as well.”