POTENTIALLY life-saving information for the emergency services can be accessed thanks to 'Message in a Bottle' tubs to be handed out across North Ayrshire.

Funding was secured by Police Scotland for the emergency help bottles which have been supplied by Dementia Friendly Largs and District.

At a meeting at Inverclyde Sports Centre, the group arranged to handover 300 emergency Help Bottles to Guy Jenner, Prevention and Interventions Officer for Police Scotland.

Guy Jenner arranged funding by Police Scotland for the emergency help bottles which have been supplied by Dementia Friendly Largs and District.

Christina Malcolmson, of the Largs Dementia Friendly group, said: "The emergency help tubs is a national scheme used by emergency services.

"Designed to encourage people to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form, along with any repeat prescription, in a bottle within their fridge.

"The bottle initially contains a personal information form and two green cross stickers: one is attached to the outside of the fridge door and the other is attached just inside the front door above the hall light switch.

"If an emergency arises, and the emergency services are called, the green cross above the light switch indicates the presence of the bottle in the fridge.

"The help bottles are for anyone living with a medical condition or living on their own not just for someone with dementia."

Largs Dementia Friendly groupLargs Dementia Friendly group joined forces with Police Scotland to help with 300 message in a bottles being distributed around Ayrshire (Image: Newsquest)The bottles are free-of-charge and can be picked up from the following in Largs Post Office, Largs Medical Centre, various chemists and opticians.

Following the handover the tubs will thereafter be located at venues across Ayrshire for free uplift by the community.

Robbie Stevenson, far left, of Largs Dementia Friendly praised the new Message in a Bottle help tubs as potential lifesaversRobbie Stevenson, far left, of Largs Dementia Friendly praised the new Message in a Bottle help tubs as potential lifesavers (Image: Newsquest)

Largs Dementia Friendly chairman Robbie Stevenson said: "This is brilliant news that the message in a bottle tubs are going to be available across the region, and it is very helpful for the emergency services, and could make all the difference."

Police also encourage families and carers of people living with dementia to get a "Herbert Protocol" form - a document that has been used many times to help police and other agencies quickly and safely locate missing people.

The document is an information gathering tool to assist police - designed to be completed by a family member, care giver or friend. Find our more here: https://orlo.uk/T7VZS

More information about their distribution across Ayrshire will be available on the Police Scotland Facebook page from Friday, November 8.