Have you thought about what would happen to person you look after if you became ill or had an emergency to deal with? Planning for emergencies will give you and the person you care for peace of mind, knowing that back up support can be put place in case you need it.

      

Carers Emergency Card

Do you look after someone? If you do, whether you are a friend, neighbour or relative, the Carers Emergency Card has been designed with you in mind.

The idea is very simple. You carry the yellow card (credit card size) with you and should you have an accident or be taken ill it will immediately let people know that someone is depending on you.

When the card is found it clearly instructs the finder to ring the emergency telephone number at Redditch Lifeline. This telephone is staffed 24 hours a day. The Lifeline staff will hold the information you have given on your application form. They will immediately know who to contact and what to do in an emergency. If you wish, the person you care for can also be issued with a card to carry. This will provide you with the added peace of mind that, should they be involved in an emergency, help will be at hand.

If you would like to apply for the card, please do one of the following:

ONLINE: Apply online HERE

VIA EMAIL: Send an email to [email protected] asking to be sent a Carers Emergency Card Form

DOWNLOAD, PRINT AND POST: Download and fill in the form HERE. You will need to post it back to us at the address on the form.

CALL US: Call us on 0300 012 4272 so we can post a form out to you 

     

Message in a bottle (Datalink Pot)

This allows the emergency services to access vital personal and medical information should you suffer from an accident or illness at home. Your personal and medical information is stored in a clearly labelled plastic container and kept in your fridge. The container holds two labels, known to the emergency services, which can be displayed in your home one on the fridge door and the other at eye level on the INSIDE of your main entry door.

If you would like details of this service, please call our helpline 0300 012 4272 or email [email protected].

 

ICE (In Case of Emergency)

ICE is a campaign started by a paramedic to help emergency staff quickly find who to contact. You can store the word ICE in your mobile phone address book with the number of the person you’d like people to contact, for example your back-up carer. If something happens to you, ambulance, police or hospital staff will look for the word ICE in your phone’s address book and call that person. If you have more than one person to contact in an emergency, you can list them as ICE1, ICE2, ICE3.

Fortunately, most of today’s mobile phones come with a feature that allows you to enter ICE data that’s accessible from your phone’s lock screen, including emergency contacts and important medical information. Each phone provider is different, so check your device's manual for instructions.

 

NHS 111

111 is the number you should call when you need advice or medical treatment quickly, and you cannot wait for an appointment to see your doctor. An online service is also available: https://111.nhs.uk/

 

Social Services – Adult Care

You should call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) only if someone's safety and/or welfare is at serious risk and the situation cannot wait until 9am on the next working day. The EDT can be contacted on 01905 768020.

The service is available between:

Friday afternoon from 4:30pm to Monday morning until 9:00am
Monday afternoon from 5:00pm to Thursday morning until 9:00am

This includes all bank holidays. After midnight messages left on EDT voice bank activates an EDT social worker's pager.

www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20004/health_and_social_care/327/emergency_out_of_hours_social_work_services

 

Offer a free and confidential service. They are available round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it's best to call them on 116 123, this number is FREE to call.   You don't have to be suicidal to call them. Click on the link for further information: http://www.samaritans.org

    

Herbert Protocol

The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme adopted by police services and other agencies across the country for missing people with dementia or other mental vulnerabilities. It consists of a form that contains vital information about a person at risk that can be passed to the police if the person is reported missing. A recent photograph of the person should also be kept with the form.

Find out more at: www.westmercia.police.uk/article/20154/The-Herbert-Protocol

       

First Aid

As a carer you may find it useful to learn the basics of First Aid in case of an emergency. We run a regular Carers First Aid training session throughout the year – see our EVENTS PAGE to see when the next one is running.

 

Priority Services Register

The Priority Services Register is a free service provided by suppliers and network operators for people who are vulnerable or medically dependent so they can be offered priority support in the event of a power cut or gas outage. Each energy supplier and network operator maintains its own register - to get on it, you need to contact your energy supplier.

 

Fire Safety

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire Service offer a free Safe and Well Check for vulnerable people such as the elderly, people living alone and those with reduced mobility. The visit includes a home safety check to help reduce the risk of fire in the home, including the checking and fitting of smoke alarms where required. This includes alarms suitable for those with a hearing impairment and giving advice on a fire escape plan. Find out more information HERE.

 

Pet Care

The Cinnamon Trust is a charity that helps older people keep their pets. Their volunteers provide care for pets which includes day to day care as well as pet fostering if the owner goes into hospital. They can also help if the person you care for moves into a care home. They have a Pet Friendly Care Home Register that lists care homes and retirement housing happy to accept residents with pets.

Find out more information HERE.