Small and large canisters.
Small and large canisters.
Data Link Emergency Scheme is a voluntary scheme for anyone at home (or car) and provides a method of keeping potentially lifesaving personal information readily available in the home (or car) for use in an emergency. The scheme enables the Emergency Services, GPs, Community Nurses, Paramedics, carers etc. to find the information should the user of the scheme become suddenly ill, suffer and accident or, for any other reason, become incoherent and in need of urgent assistance. Possibly of more interest to the elderly or incapacitated, the scheme is intended to cover anyone regardless of their age.
Datalink or Message in a Bottle is simply a plastic container protecting a folded data sheet, kept in the household refrigerator. A matching label fixed to the outside of the refrigerator indicates the presents of the container. A label fixed prominently above the lock on the main access door to the dwelling indicates that Message on a Bottle or Datalink is available.
The scheme is run using different names i.e. Data Link (Neighbourhood Watch) and Message in a Bottle (Lions Club). The Emergency Services are aware of this and emphasis that, what even the name, the schemes must have:
Green cross labels:
a) on the canister in the refrigerator;
b) to the outer side of the refrigerator door; and
c) next to the handle on the inside of the front door.
The scheme, free to users, is based on the use of a Data Form, three adhesive labels and an empty canister (you can use a 35 mm film canister).
When the users has manually inserted emergency information on the Data Form, the form is folded and placed inside the canister;
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one label (with green cross) is attached to the canister and the canister then placed in the household refrigerator; |
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a second label (with green cross) is attached to the outer side of the refrigerator door; and |
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a third label is attached to the inside of the main door to the house close to the door handle. |
If any of the Emergency Services are called to the property they will detect the presence of the scheme from the label inside the main front door and locate the information canister within the refrigerator.
You should plan to take up to six months to set up the scheme after you have organised funding (example of a letter asking for funding) and obtained agreement from the Emergency Services.
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Canisters (used by 35 mm films) - Obtained from Boots Chemist, SupaSnaps or the Police Photographic Department at Netley for free (make sure you say you require canisters and lids). |
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Labels (green cross stickers x 3) - Ordered from G Shepherd (Portsmouth) Ltd. £254 + VAT for 2000 and £560 + VAT for 10,000 (June 2001). |
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A4 size Data Forms - Used own facilities |
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Cost of a single unit - 6.9p per unit (2001) |
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Posters and distribution boxes - Spectrascan (Emsworth) Ltd |
Address:
G Shepherd (Portsmouth) Ltd Ridgeway House Unicorn Road Portsmouth Hants PO1 4RD Tel: 023 9282 0635 Fax: 023 9282 4386 Spectrascan (Emsworth) Ltd White Lodge Long Copse Lane Emsworth PO10 7UL Tel: 012 4337 9628These canisters are screw topped and easier to open.
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Clear canister, labels (green cross stickers x 3) and Data Form - delivery is chargable, 22p each (includes VAT) for quantities of 1000 and over. Ordered from Tony Zandos Tel: 0208 4400612 Mobile: 07775 828087 |
It is essential that you obtain the support of the Emergency Services before embarking on setting up a scheme. Without their support you will not have a scheme because it is they that you will rely on to identify that the scheme exists in a home when ever called upon to provide assistance.
The following initial points-of contact will help you:
You have to contact your local Police head quarters.
You will be wise to advise other agencies, such as your local NHS Trust, Community Nursing, Social Services etc. You could approach your local Council authority because they may be interested in funding your scheme.
Distribution is the biggest challenge and is a slow process.
You could start by distributing through your organisation to make sure everything works. Later you will need to enlist the support of local surgeries, health centres, council offices, housing associations, Age Concern centres, community centres, libraries etc. You may need to design a box to hold the packs (containing the canisters and labels) at the selected distribution points and posters to bring these to peoples attention.
To enhance your distribution and make as many people aware of the scheme you have to produce an effective advertising campaign.
Get your local newspaper, newsletters, magazines etc. to publish articles. Inform your local radio station. Use posters at the distribution points.
The success of the scheme is dependant of the effort setting up the scheme. The more time spent considering the practicalities will help prolong its continued success.
Things to consider:
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Identify project target dates (milestones) and actions |
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The project should consist of a Working Group. Hold meetings, minute with actions. |
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Make sure labour intensive work (i.e. Distribution, and collection and maintaining the canister stockpiles) is kept to a minimum or your group are able to sustain this commitment. Consider the amount of work required to keep the scheme operating. |
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Take into consideration future price rises. |
Make the launch an event because it is in your interest to do so. If you can get your local council (ask the Mayor to attend) to help with the launch it will assist your advertising campaign.