EMERGENCY CARDS HELP RURAL AREA; BOLLINGER COUNTY SHERIFF OFFERS NEW NOTIFICATION CARDS

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County doesn't have a 911 emergency response system. But county Sheriff Dan Mesey says it may now have something better.

Recently, the county sheriff's department begin making available Emergency Notification Cards, thanks to an idea by Mesey. The cards are designed to aid and provide information to authorities when they respond to emergencies with either an individual or business.

"We don't have 911 and we're a rural area, which means that it takes longer for us to respond to their homes. It takes longer for the ambulance; it takes a longer time to get to the hospital. They may be providing something on this card that may very well save their life," said the sheriff.

With 911, he said, a person dials on his or her telephone the numbers 911 and the computer shows exactly where that person lives. In regards to that, Mesey said, the card system isn't better. The cards, though, are probably better than a 911 system in providing really pertinent information, said Mesey.

As of the first week, Mesey estimated that 100 of the cards were filled out.

Individuals fill in their name, address and phone number on the cards, he said. Below that, Mesey said, the cards provide space for a listing of persons to be notified in case of emergency. Each card has three spaces for names and phone numbers of doctors and relatives.

Businesses put their name, phone number and location, Mesey said, and then list the business owners' name and the name and phone numbers of a couple of employees.

Mesey said the cards also provide an area for remarks. Individuals can mention whatever they think is important. That could mean mentioning a particular medical condition or better describing how to get to their home, he said.

In a situation like the region's debilitating snowstorm of 1979, the cards could be used to send out sheriff's posses to check on people, said Mesey. The sheriff said a lot of people lived inside their homes for two weeks because of that snowstorm, with authorities unable to reach them.

Mesey encouraged all businesses to make use of the service, as well as any individuals who wished to take part, particularly elderly people who live alone or families that have a member with a serious medical problem.

Those who wish to make use of the service may fill out a card at the sheriff's department. The cards may also be filled out by phoning in the needed information. If needed, Mesey said, a sheriff's deputy will be sent to an elderly person's home to help the individual fill out a card.

The administrator of the Senior Citizen Nutrition Center in Marble Hill called the cards "a great idea." The administrator, Martha Ann Peters, said a lot of elderly people live in the community, while most of their families live in St. Louis or other metropolitan areas.

Workers with the nutrition center's home-bound meal delivery service have gone into homes before to find a resident laying on the floor and unable to get up, she said. Peters said other similar situations have also happened.

"This could be very, very helpful in all age groups," added Peters.