Dear Nigel,

INCIDENTS ON WALKS -CONTACT DETAILS

Not surprisingley, this letter has come about following Mick Masucci's heart attack on my Boxing Day Walk.

The first problem we had, after phoning for an ambulance, was who should we contact about this, i.e. family.  It was only by hook and by crook that we were able to get in touch with his sister. This got me thinking over the past couple of weeks and i make the folling suggestion to you, for discussion at a committee meeting.

Is it appropriate that the group ask that each person attending one of our walks carry, voluntarily, a card with contact details in case of an emergency?  (I know these things only happen once in the blue moon, but blue moons do seem to crop up quite often).  The card to carry the following:-

Full Name

Address

Date of Birth

Emergency Contact Details.(Name/Address/Telephone No/Relationship)

Next of Kin (If different)

Blood Group

Any known allergies

Any existing medical conditions

Any medicines currently being taken

I know that some people will not see the need for this, but, having first hand experience of how horrible and awkward these situations can be, i myself will be doing this.  This could make the difference between life and death, literaly. 

Also, there is the aspect of visitors on group walks.  How about concidering the following?  On our page in the strider, before the details of the first group walk, get them to put "Will all participants please carry emergency contact details".  At least then we would have made an effort.

I fully appreciate that this will need to be entirely voluntary, but i feel it is worth encouraging.

Also, connected to this, Mobile Phones.  Most people have an emergency contact on their phone.  I have the following on mine, which i read about in the Daily Telegraph 12 months ago.  Next to the emergency contact name in the call contact section of the phone, add the letters "ICE" which stands for "In case of emergency".  Thus, if we need to use someones phone, we know who to immediately contact.

Just some thoughts Nigel, but i seem to have been having a lot of them since Boxing Day.

Best Wishes and see you soon    Adrian Moody