MIAB
Message in a Bottle is not solely a Lions initiative, however it is an initiative that a great many Lions Clubs across the country have taken embraced, often funding the scheme from their own charity accounts.
This scheme is free to the user. Whilst it is focused on the more vulnerable people in our community, anyone can fall downstairs, so this scheme can benefit anyone. As a minimum it will save the Emergency Services valuable time identifying you and your emergency contacts. By telling 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.
Where can I get a bottle?
Bottles, which are free of charge, can usually be found in local chemist or doctors surgeries. They may also be obtained through Neighbourhood Watch groups, local churches, Age Concern, Council Offices, Housing Associations and many other places including Police stations.
Whilst the Message in a Bottle scheme is primarily designed to help the more vulnerable people in our community, anyone could find that emergency services, doctors etc. are called to their house. By completing the information on the form, it will save the emergency services valuable time in identifying the individual and whether they have special medication or allergies or not. It is not only a potential lifesaver, but also it provides peace of mind to the users, their friends and families in knowing that prompt medical treatment is provided and that the next of kin / emergency contacts are notified.
The best way to find out how to launch MIAB in your area is to visit a nearby Club and ask them or your District MIAB coordinator. We have provided a checklist of items to consider which could form the basis of your plan.
We have standardised the Bottles and Forms so that they are the same regardless of where you live. This will make it easier for the Emergency Services, especially those that provide support over more than Lions District, to look for the same information. As part of this exercise we have also created a central ordering point where we should be able to reduce costs by combining orders and obtaining bulk discounts.
By ordering centrally, the coordinator will try and combine as many orders as possible to achieve the maximum Bulk discounts available.
The minimum order for a supply of Bottles is one Pallet, therefore, please try and combine your orders with other nearby Clubs if you require less than this. Each Pallet contains 3,150 pre packed bottles, with 2 labels and 1 form, i.e. 15 boxes. Automatically you will receive 1000 extra forms per pallets, included in the price.
By having the Bottles pre packed, this saves many hours of performing the packing yourselves and the Bottles are ready for distribution as soon as you receive them.
Now that you have reached this point, you may still have some questions or perhaps just need some help to enable you to launch the scheme. If you do not know of local Clubs who have launched, or there aren't any, please contact your District MIAB coordinator who will provide help and guidance.
