Huge demand for Message in a Bottle in Dungloe

CDP na Rosann CTR, The Community Development Project in Dungloe recently launched its Message in a Bottle initiative and over the course of the first week 150 bottles were distributed throughout the community. 

Message in a Bottle is a simple idea that encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a bottle, it also includes details of next of kin and personal wishes. 

The manager of the CDP, Roseann Ní Ghallachóir said community groups were very interested in the initiative and that it could potentially save lives in an emergency situation. Representatives from the gardaí and fire brigade were present at the launch. 

“The bottle contains a form containing all your personal information and a photograph to accompany it,” she said.

“It also details any medical conditions you might have, your medication and your next of kin. 

“Most people are putting them in the fridge and a sticker goes on the outside of the fridge. 

“When a garda or a paramedic calls they can access it because sometimes when someone falls people can become flustered and they can’t remember important information.”

The overall goal of the initiative is to supply emergency services with the necessary information in the most efficient way possible.

A pharmacy in Dungloe has asked for one hundred bottles so they can supply customers who may be interested.  

It is also hoped to encourage the local GPs and Public Health nurses to distribute the bottles to those who need them so that in the case of an emergency, critical information such as precise location, medical conditions, medication and allergies are immediately available. 

Linda Ní Ghallachóir, Social prescriber, who is based in the CDP, works throughout the Rosses and the islands and will be promoting the Message in a Bottle through her work.  

The initiative was launched in St Shanaghan House, Ardara in June 2022 and initially introduced by the Lions Club in Letterkenny but it is an initiative of the Lions Club of Ireland.

“We got the bottles from the Lions Club in Letterkenny as they are rolling them out,” Roseann said.

These are available for everyone and can be collected from certain local garda stations, pharmacies, GP clinics, through the social prescriber and in the CDP office in Dungloe where they ask for a small €1 donation which will allow the distribution of Message in a Bottle to continue.