|
|
Call for 'lifesaving' message in
bottle
10.04.09
THE CHAIRMAN of the
Fahan Care of the Aged Committee, Patrick Lynch is
trying to raise awareness of a simple and
inexpensive scheme that has the potential to save
the lives of elderly people in Inishowen.
In his hands is a small see-through capsule
containing a single sheet of paper, but this
so-called Message in a Bottle, contains vital
information that could save a life in an emergence.
The capsule contains information on a person’s
history of illness, what medication they are taking
and if there are allergic to any particular
medicines and who their local GP is.
The Message in a Bottle is placed in the fridge and
stickers advertising its presence there are put up
at various points of the individual’s home.
Mr Lynch brought the capsule to last week’s meeting
of the local Care of the Aged. |
“I heard about the
scheme through a friend that works in the health
service in the North. I was impressed and brought
the capsule to my local Care of the Aged meeting.
The beauty of the Message in a Bottle is that it is
so simple, yet could save lives. I believe all
elderly people should have one their home,
especially those people living on their own,” said
the Fahan pensioner.
“I want to see if there is a way of sponsoring the
Message in a Bottle scheme in Inishowen and am
interested in getting the feedback of the public and
other community groups,” he added.
In 2007 80,000 bottles were purchased |
 |
by the Northern Ireland
Office for distribution to older people and
vulnerable adults across the six counties. The
scheme was part-funded by the Northern Ireland
Ambulance Service and the PSNI.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent, Jackie Barr,
a Newtown based Northern Ireland Environmental
Health Officer, said the scheme had obvious
benefits.
“This scheme will prevent someone from getting the
wrong medication. Out of hours, you are not likely
to see your own doctor, it’s more likely to be the
Now Doc or a locum.”
While admitting she had no documentary evidence to
back up the claim, Mrs Barr was confident the
Message in a Bottle had already saved lives.
“We live on the same island, maybe it could be put
in place on the other side of the border as well. My
elderly father in law from Fahan suffers from
dementia and I have given him a Message in a
Bottle,” said Mrs Barr.
A local HSE official attended the Fahan Care of the
Aged meeting where the capsule was shown, however
while acknowledging they’d been shown the Message in
a Bottle, the official did not wish to comment
further on the scheme. |
|
