Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
La Cala Lions Club in collaboration with Mijas Foreigners Department launched its life-saving and groundbreaking initiative at the La Cala Deputy Mayor’s Office aimed at saving people in emergency situations.
Spearheaded by Lion Anne Bowles, the ‘Message in a Bottle’ programme provides a simple yet effective way to ensure critical medical information is readily available to emergency services.
This initiative is already being used by 5 million people in UK. Residents, in particular those who are living alone or have language barriers, are encouraged to store important medical information in an airtight bottle in their refrigerator. The bottle contains information about medical conditions, allergies and treatments for heart disease or diabetes. Luis Dominguez explained, “This is to help people that may struggle with communication during an urgent situation.” Emergency services, firefighters or police can access the information quickly to act more efficiently.
The system is simple: residents complete a medical history sheet, place it into a hermetically-sealed bottle and store it easily accessible in their refrigerator. An emergency responder is alerted by stickers on the door of the fridge and the entrance to the house. Dominguez explained that the fridge was chosen because “everyone has one”.
Mario Bravo, a councillor in the Mijas Foreigners Department praised the initiative as bringing peace of mind to residents who do not speak Spanish or live alone. He said that the La Cala Lions were proud to bring this measure to Mijas.
Fernando Juanes from the Lions Club Madrid, and Maria Ysabel Pacheco, from the Lions Club Alicante were both present at the meeting. They were impressed by the innovativeness of the project and decided to spread the campaign throughout Spain using the small bottles.
La Cala Lions offer these emergency kits for free and encourage residents to take part. Bottles are available at the three Lions Club shops in La Cala, or by calling the club on 607 879 455.
To request a free bottle or for more information contact the La Cala Lions Club. This simple action could be the difference between life and death in an emergency.
