Concept

The Lions Message in a Bottle (MIAB) is a simple idea that encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a common place where they easily be found in an emergency.
The information is kept in the distinctive bottle, in the user's fridge where emergency services will expect to find it. They will know by seeing labels posted at the front door and on the fridge.

History

MIAB arrived in Buckinghamshire in 2001, following a launch by Lions Clubs in Bedfordshire. Funding in the early days was sourced through the creation of the Bucks Data Link Partnership ( BDLP) when the emergency services, Lions clubs and Bucks County Council came together to promote the scheme and Bucks Fire and Rescue undertook to store the bottles at fire stations.

All Lions Clubs in Bucks were asked to make a contribution and many did. At least one district council in Bucks, Chiltern Vale made a substantial committment.

The bottles arrive un-assembled and it is necessary to fit the green lid to the container and "stuff" the form and labels inside. Originally this was done in one of the young offender’s institutes near Aylesbury.

The original order was for 60,000 bottles to be distributed around the county and Lions gave out between 5,000 and 10,000 in Milton Keynes.
Early recipients were Age Concern, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

It is thought that MIAB originated in Cumbria and was the idea of a police officer. The scheme then spread by word of mouth from county to county and is now widespread.

Current Situation

Our club exhibited MIAB at both the Hospital members meeting exhibition and the +55 exhibition in October and received a very positive response. As a result we have obtained a new stock of bottles via the BDLP and these have been distributed to;

Mclaren’s Pharmacy in New Bradwell
Cox & Robinson Pharmacy in Fishermead
Jardine’s Pharmacy in Newport Pagnell
P.& I. Smith Pharmacy
The African-Caribbean Luncheon Club in Wolverton
The Newport Pagnell Fire Station
The Moorlands Centre in Beanhill
John Lewis
Westfield Surgery, Bletchley
End of Life Care Team, Bletchley
Intervention Unit, MK Council
Orchard House in Wolverton
PJ Care Ltd
ACS Care Service
MK Adult Social care team
MK Hospital Bereavement Team
Various individuals at the exhibitions.

In the last twelve months ( June 2011 )
 2000 bottles have been distributed

For further information contact the club secretary

0845 833 9592
secretary@lcbmk.co.uk