Bradford's elderly and vulnerable residents are being told that storing vital medical information in a bottle could save their lives. 

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with Keighley Lions and the Friends of the Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) to launch a "Message in the Bottle" scheme aimed at protecting the city’s most at-risk patients.

The plastic container, which will be given out free will allow the storage of important details like medical conditions, a GP's details or prescribed medication for the emergency services to access easily. 

Chief Nurse, Sally Ferguson, said: “This new scheme which the Foundation Trust is launching today means if a person is found unconscious in an emergency, the police or paramedics can consult the bottle for aid advice and bring it with them to the hospital.

"The Message in a Bottle scheme is simple, but incredibly effective, and could prove invaluable in case of an emergency. 

"Having quick access to essential personal information and relative contact details can make a real difference for us and the other emergency services.”

Experts suggest storing the labelled bottle in the fridge and sticking a green warning label on the fridge door to alert emergency services to the container’s presence.

BRI Matron, Dawn Parkes, said: “Sometimes it is the simple things that are the most effective. This emergency bottle is a terrific idea which could have a massive impact upon people's lives. 

“The ‘Message in a Bottle’ scheme gives emergency services a single reference point for essential information about people who may suffer from conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy or a chronic allergy. 

"Stickers drawing attention to the container can also be displayed inside the house on the back of the front door (where it is not visible from outside).” 

From today, nurses across both the BRI and St Luke’s Hospital will distribute free packs to patients and any relative who asks for an emergency container.

The ‘Message in a Bottle’ were supplied by Keighley Lions and purchased for the Foundation Trust by the Friends of the BRI.