Safety Advice.
When Caravaning in a small CL near the Welsh border, there were just two vans. One belonging to my sister and ours, I was taken seriously ill and needed urgent medical help from the paramedics. BUT, I was unable to be of help to anyone and when asked where we were, "camping in a remote field on the Welsh border" was not a good enough answer! It meant my husband who was naturally worried, skimming through the book to find where I had highlighted the site address and number, my sister running down the track to guide the ambulance in. The owners house was not nearby and did not even know of our visitor in the night.
We have learnt from this harsh awakening...and now always stick a 'post it 'on the door with the name, address and telephone number of our hosts. People who we have met commented on the idea. It could have saved minutes, and a log of anguish.
Comments
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A very good idea.
Turn left after the Oak tree beyond the pub does not really cut it with the emergency services, they do need to know where they are located.
I don't know if they are able to use them, but if you put a marker on google maps it generates a unique plus code that you could give them. Clearly you would need to do this where you had internet access, but perhaps worth a thought. Just like an OS reference, the code identifies the exact spot, all they need to do is put it into google maps.
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If you call 999 on a modern smartphone I think the emergency services using Advanced Mobile Location can find you to within 30 metres.
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JB, this is a very valid point, especially when off the beaten track and not on a proper site or easily identifiable farm. As you know post codes can be less than useless, so it's either a map Grid Reference or Long / Lat co-ordinates. I Steward rallies and when someone has a problem like this it is my door they come to first.
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I always print out details of any site we stay at so the address and postcode and, perhaps, grid ref are always close at hand. It's been useful many a time when we've thought we've known our way back to the site after a day out but then found we were lost!
I hope you are well recovered JennieBee.
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Very good point Jennie and I hope you are fully recovered.
I had a wake up call a couple of years back when I fell off my bike which woke up a lot of people particularly solo caravanners like me. I don't remember telling the police I was caravanning - but they went to Warwick Racecourse site and found two other solos! However they didn't know much about me or that I had my next of kin on the inside of the caravan wardrobe door. It didn't help that my mobile phone had got drowned in the mishap either. Luckily I have both my son and daughter's numbers in my head which recovered enough to remember them! So there are several bases that need to be covered in cases of emergency.
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The Advice given to me was & still is :-
Put your details of Medication, Illnesses, Carers
etc in a container IN THE FRIDGE !! I am led to
believe that's the first place Called Assistance will
look. I use a plastic tub similar to the tubs/containers
that photographic films used -- water tight but easily
opened
The Same can always be done in the caravan
or motorvan but with your Location details as well.
I seem to recall it was suggested that walkers &
cyclists etc could carry on a chain round their neck
one of those little metal tubes used for Dog Details!
Pippah might remember this topic !!
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In UK OH plans/books & lists site details/dates etc., along with possible places of interest in map book for easy reference. For some registering with Medic Alert & wearing a chain & disc or bracelet with details on is an option in case of accident as well as keeping details in a container in fridge especially if one is alone.
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It's a good idea to make an "I.C.E" sheet for your wallet or purse too.
In Case of Emergency (I.C.E) sheets are looked for by emergency responders, if you put the details of any allergies to medicines, your blood type, and emergency contacts (next of kin, work) it can help the responders give you the proper care.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Case_of_Emergency
On the iPhone you can create an I.C.E. by going into the "Health" app and selecting "Medical ID"
Some other phones allow you to set up the same thing, or if you're a bit handy with photo editing you can put the information on a photo and set that as your lock screen.
If you don't have a smart phone then create an entry in your contacts that is named I.C.E. with the number of a relative the responders can contact.
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On a slightly different subject to the OP. I have an app on my phone called ICEcard - In Case of Emergency. It list's all my medication, conditions, 'phone numbers of family as well as the phone number of my GP and hospital consultant, allergies etc. I've never had to use it in an emergency, but have used it as an aide memoire when a doctor or dentist etc asks me what medication I am on. It was useful in Germany when I had to go to see a doctor for a prescription item I had accidentally left at home.
David
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Always a good idea to think through what might be needed in emergency situations. We broke down towing the caravan in a quiet part of Germany and discovered:
1. We weren't sure exactly where we were (a passing motorist very kindly drove to the next village, noted the name and came back to tell us).
2. I wasn't carrying my latest breakdown policy with me and there was confusion about whether we were covered. 1 hour to sort out.
3. My mobile ran out of credit and I hadn't sorted out how to top-up on the move.
Fortunately we were taken to a BMW garage who gave us a desk and phone to make all the arrangements needed. Brilliant service even though we opted to have the car recovered to the UK rather than use the garage.
We broke down at 9 am and it took until 4.30 pm to get everything agreed with the insurer -flights home etc.
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