Temuka residents are being encouraged to pick up a life tube from a collection point in King St.
A life tube is a small plastic cylinder containing a completed medical and information sheet which is kept in the household refrigerator.
Real Estate South Canterbury owner Jan Holden said the tubes also contained a red sticker, which was to be placed on the outside of the refrigerator to alert medics to its whereabouts.
Mrs Holden said she knew of people who kept their life tubes in their handbags in case they had a tumble, or in their caravans while travelling.
She said for people living on their own, in the event that St John or other medical professionals were called, while someone worked on the patient another could check the fridge allowing them to find out all previous medical history, which could potentially save the person’s life.
She hoped people wouldn’t dismiss the idea as only for the elderly.
‘‘You never know when you’re going to have a heart attack.’’
Mrs Holden felt strongly enough about the tubes that the real estate agency had invested in ‘‘a small supply’’ to be given out to residents for a gold coin donation — or free for those in need.
All donations would go ‘‘towards more tubes’’.
Along with medical history, people could keep their notes on their funeral requirements, next of kin and emergency contacts tucked safely inside.
Mrs Holden said while life tubes were Age Concern’s baby, St John was now implementing it.
She and her staff at Real Estate South Canterbury were simply the ‘‘delivery boys’’.
She said they had chosen to cover the difference of cost of the life tubes ‘‘because we are part of the community’’.
