Last night (Thursday ) Claremorris and District Lions Club launched their new community project named Message in a Bottle.
The official launch, which took place at the McWilliam Park Hotel, was performed by Frank Murphy, area manager, Mayo HSE.
The Message in a Bottle scheme is a simple idea that encourages people who are living alone to keep their basic personal and medical details in a common place (normally the fridge ), where they can be found quickly in case of an emergency. The emergency team, should they be called, will instantly recognise the special Green Cross stickers located on the inside of front and rear doors of the house, and on the door of the fridge.
Claremorris and District Lions Club will provide the printed bottles which contain the information leaflets and Green Cross stickers to cover Claremorris, Ballindine, Irishtown, Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh, Knock, Kilkelly, and Hollymount areas.
Members of the Claremorris primary care team will initially distribute the bottles to the relevant households, and bottles will also be available through health centres, pharmacies, etc.
Because of the nature of the project which is specifically designed to help vulnerable people living alone in the community, the support of groups such as the HSE primary care teams, health centres, social workers, doctors, pharmacists, and active retirement groups as well as Fire Brigade, Order of Malta, Red Cross, Ambulance Service and An Garda Siochana has been enlisted.
