Message in a Bottle – I am autistic

SCAS call taker

We’re very pleased to be piloting an addition to the Lions Message in a Bottle scheme – which will help autistic people’s communications with healthcare professionals.

The Message in a Bottle scheme is supported by all emergency services and allows people to store essential information about themselves like allergies, medication, emergency contact details, in a recognisable bottle that our crews know to look for.

Working with Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire NHS Integrated Care Board, autistic service users, and the Lions Club of Winslow, we have developed an extra sheet that will highlight to emergency personnel that they are responding to an autistic person.

Emergency situations often cause more stress and anxiety. For autistic people this can make it harder for them to cope with the situation and to share and process information when speaking with emergency services.

The new sheet will help our crews understand individual communications preferences and adapt how they support autistic people. It will initially be piloted in Buckinghamshire in 2025.

The Lions message in a Bottle is also often available free of charge from pharmacists or GP surgeries.

 

Tell us what you think

If you have a Lions Message in a Bottle, and have used the new form for autistic people; please tell us what you think using the feedback form below:

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