Youghal Active Retirement Association, and Youghal Credit Union in conjunction with Lions Clubs Ireland, are launching a new initiative called Message in a Bottle (MIAB) in The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal on Thursday, 29th February at 11am.
Message in a Bottle consists of a bottle (or other plastic container) that contains an information form detailing personal information, allergies, physical challenges, medications and emergency contact details. The form is to be filled out and placed back in the bottle, ideally with a copy of a current medical prescription. The bottle is then placed in the fridge. The bottle also contains two green cross stickers that are placed on the main entrance door and fridge door in the home.
Should an incident occur the first responders/emergency services who enter will know to look for the bottle in the fridge and treat the patient accordingly.
Message in a Bottle is ideal for the older people, people not in good health, people living alone, people who have life threatening conditions/allergies, people with disabilities or pregnant women, whereby their personal and medial information is on hand for the emergency services should an emergency occur in their home. It will also benefit the Paramedics, Garda, Fire-fighters, Hospital Accident and Emergency and Social Services as it provides the essential time-saving information they need to assess and treat / help the patient.
The MIAB bottles will be available for all in the community at the launch on Thursday, 29th February and afterwards in all branches of Youghal Credit Union.
Frank Down, YARA said “We believe Message in a Bottle is such a great initiative and want to encourage everyone in our community to come to our launch on the 29th of February, learn about MIAM and take a bottle home. We hope they will fill in the details, put the bottle in the fridge and place the stickers on their front door and fridge door to help the emergency services should an accident occur”.
Patrick Heaphy, Youghal Credit Union said “We are delighted to support this wonderful community initiative. We would love to see all those who are vulnerable in our community have a Message in a Bottle in their fridge so that should an accident occur, emergency services will be able to treat them in the best possible time saving way”.
For more information, go to www.youghalcu.ie/MIAB.
