The Lions Message in a Bottle scheme

May 2020 The Lions Message in a Bottle scheme is a simple idea designed to encourage people to keep their personal and medical details on a form and in a common location – the fridge.   The scheme can help venerable people but can also be used by anyone.  The scheme works by placing personal and medical information into the  small plastic bottle and sealing the push-fit lid, the bottle is big enough o hold the necessary information.  The bottle should then be placed in the fridge, where the emergency services will expect to look for it in the event of being called to your home.  They will be alerted to your membership of the scheme by two green cross labels.  One label is fixed to the back of your front door ( or the door most used to access your premises), the second label is attached to the door of your fridge.  We have a supply of these Message in a Bottles at the reception desk.  The information required on the form within the bottle is quite straightforward, but you might like to ask a relative, neighbour, carer or one of our reception team members to help you complete this.  The form also has a space for a passport size photograph, but this is only necessary when their is more than one person living at the address ( to aid identification).   The form requires the following information:

  • Your full name and brief physical description 
  • Your doctors name and the surgery address and telephone number
  • A brief description of any medical conditions you are suffering from 
  • The names , addresses and telephone numbers of two persons who may be contacted in the event of an emergency – sudden illness or accident
  • Details of pets at the property that may need caring for
  • Details of anyone that you might provide care for – Full name and address

It is also recommended that you keep an up to date list of any repeat medications that you may be prescribed.   This information is of great value to the ambulance service.  Paramedics are able to ​administer drugs, but need to know of any you are already taking to eliminate the risk of drug interaction. 

Please ask at reception if you are unsure of your repeat medication list.