Message in a bottle to help save lives

It’s a message in a bottle which could help save lives.

Bantry Bay Lions Club is planning to distribute hundreds of special containers to elderly and vulnerable people within the local garda district which stretches from Drimoleague to Allihies.

They will be encouraged to store their personal information and medical details on a standard form, and place it in a common location — the fridge.

Green Cross stickers are then placed on the front and back doors of the house, and on the outside of the fridge to alert emergency services that potentially vital information on the householders is available.

The initiative, sponsored by Bantry-based Rowa Pharmaceuticals, was launched at a special function at the West Lodge Hotel.

All the emergency services were present at the launch, as were the local Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch groups, who will help to distribute the containers and forms.

Garda Damian White, community garda for Bantry who is also a member of the Lions Club, said the scheme benefits the elderly along with those who live alone and anyone suffering from a long-term illness or disability. “The information stored on the form will aid the emergency services to provide the proper treatment for the patient,” he said.