Are you prepared for the Unexpected?

Now is the time to prepare for the unexpected. Carers are encouraged to use our TEMPLATE to make an Emergency Plan. Have you ever worried about what would happen if you suddenly could not be there for the person you support and care for?

For example you could have an accident and be unable to get home or you might find you need to go into hospital at short notice

• Who would you contact to help in an emergency?
• If you have a plan for an emergency, who knows about it?
• Do you keep up to date lists of medicines needed by the person you care for?
• Where are your keys kept?
• How would someone else know the needs of the person you support?

All these details can written down in advance and kept in a safe place – it may not prevent an emergency but it could give you peace of mind.

The Emergency Plan Template has been developed by a group of organisations in Hillingdon that support carers:

• Alzheimer’s Society Hillingdon
• Crossroads Care Hillingdon
• Hillingdon Carers
• London Borough of Hillingdon
• Rethink

It includes suggestions made by carers who attended the Carers Conference on 8th June 2010

The Emergency Plan Template would be useful in all sorts of circumstances – it takes a bit of effort to create but then it is easy to show someone else essential information about the person you support and your individual situation.

Message In a Bottle

How does it work?

The Lions Message In a Bottle scheme is a simple idea designed to encourage people to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form and in a common location – the fridge.

The bottle is kept in the fridge, where the emergency services will be able to find it in the event of being called to your home. They will  know you have a bottle by the two labels displayed on the inside of the front door or on the main entrance to your home and the other is for the door of your fridge.

It will save the Emergency Services valuable time identifying you and your emergency contacts,  whether you have special medication or allergies or not, it is a potential lifesaver and provides peace of mind to users and their friends and families.

Bottles are free of charge and can be collected from the Hillingdon Carers Information & Advice Centre.