North Lincolnshire Council and the Lions have worked together to deliver more than 900 ‘messages in a bottle’ that could save lives.
The message in a bottle scheme encourages people to record their basic personal and medical details on a standard form, store it in a plastic bottle and keep it in the fridge.
Emergency services can then look for the bottle if they are called to the house – they are alerted to its existence by two stickers, one on the inside of the front door and one on the fridge.
Lions Clubs from Scunthorpe, Barton, Brigg, Glanford and Lindsey, Isle of Axholme and Winterton have introduced the scheme across the area, and worked with North Lincolnshire Council to identify members of the shielded population who would benefit from it.
Town and parish councils, local community groups and volunteers then helped to deliver the bottles along with the North Lincolnshire Shield Response Team.
Cllr Rob Waltham – who has been handing out the bottles in Brigg – thanked the Lions for their hard work making sure as many people as possible have a message in a bottle in their fridge.
“It is great to see the community working with the council like this, and the Lions have done an incredible job making sure vulnerable people have access to this clever scheme.
“By co-ordinating our efforts and putting those in need first we all benefit from living in a more caring community.”
The bottles are free of charge and contain information including:
- Your name and description.
- Your doctor’s details
- Any medical conditions you are suffering from
- The contact details of two people in case of emergency
- Details of any pets which may be on the premises and need to be cared for
- Details of anyone for whom you are a carer
Anyone who would benefit from a bottle, or knows of someone who would, can contact their local Lions club to request one – you can find your nearest club on the Lions website.
