What to do in an emergency
Carers are often concerned about being involved in an emergency which either prevents then from returning to their caring role or causes problems for the person they care for.
Hopefully this page will give you some advice and handy hints to help you plan for such occasions.
Always make sure that you have important telephone numbers close to hand. Such as
- GP
- GP out of hours
- Day opportunities you are involved with
- Friend/Neighbours/Relatives
Planning For Future Events
If you or the person you care for are in discussion with your Care Manager/Co-ordinator you can give them information regarding what to do or who to contact if you are going to be delayed or for longer periods of time, for example if you are going to go into hospital.
Message In A Bottle
The 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 kit comprises of
- A plastic “bottle” which goes in your fridge
- An information sheet filled which, once completed, is sealed in the bottle
- Two stickers (one for the inside of your front door and one for your fridge door) to inform the emergency services that there is a “message in a bottle” in the house
All you have to do is complete the details on the form.
Put it into the bottle supplied and place in the door compartment of your fridge.
The Emergency Services will know to look for it in the event of being called to your home. They will locate the bottle and pass it on to a doctor or hospital personnel in an emergency.
If you would like to receive a FREE message in a bottle contact your Care Manager/Co-ordinator or a Carers Development Worker.
Emergency Social Work Duty Team – 0191 456 2093
ICE – In Case Of Emergencies
A Cambridge-based paramedic has launched a national campaign to encourage people to store emergency contact details in their mobile phones.
By entering the acronym ICE – for In Case of Emergency – into the mobile’s phone book, you can log the name and number of someone who should be contacted in an emergency.
Research shows that more than 75 per cent of people carry no details of who they would like telephoned following a serious accident.
Almost everyone carries a mobile phone now, and with ICE stored in you mobile the emergency service would know immediately who to contact and what number to ring.
Whilst this is intended to inform loved ones of any such emergency your ICE Partner would also be aware that there is someone relying on you and would be able to inform the authorities.
Think about who would be your “ICE partner” - particularly if that person has to give consent for emergency medical treatment.
