A UNIQUE life saving initiative was launched in Balbriggan last week.
The Message in a Bottle Emergency Information Scheme allows elderly and vulnerable people to store all their relevant personal information in a plastic bottle, which is then kept in the fridge.
Those who live alone or with medical conditions or allergies can also enter their details on the form inside the bottle.
It will include a photograph, health details, emergency contact, doctor, whether there are pets that need looking after and where their medication is kept in the house to assist the emergency services if they need to gain access to the property.
Stickers are put on the fridge and on the inside of the front and back door to alert the emergency services that the vital information is available in the fridge.
The scheme is free to the user and Balbriggan Lions Club is providing and sponsoring the bottles.
The President of the Balbriggan Lions Club, Pat McGrath, spoke at the launch about the work the club does within the Balbriggan community and how pleased they were to be able to sponsor the scheme in the area.
Lions Club district officer, Michael Cline, explained the simple steps that were involved in filling out the required information and putting the bottle in the fridge.
“At a minimum it will save the emergency services valuable time identifying you and your contacts and will allow them to identify whether you have special medication or allergies or not,
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“It is a potential lifesaver and provides peace of mind to users and their friends and families.
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The initiative is being supported by Balbriggan community gardaÃ, the fire and ambulance services, HSE, doctors, chemists, senior citizens’ groups, local clergy, the St Vincent de Paul, the Order of Malta, Fingal Home Care, Balbriggan Town Council and Fingal County Council, who were represented at the launch.
Garda Kate Daly NÃ Bhroin of Balbriggan Garda Station announced that the bottles are now available from all seven local chemists in Balbriggan and the three medical centres in the town to anyone who is in need of them.
Garda Dave Sheeran hand-ed out the sealed bottles to all who attended the launch, which included the form to be filled out and the stickers inside.