Author Topic: Cram Alert  (Read 15918 times)

Lost Soul

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Cram Alert
« on: December 05, 2012, 08:46:01 PM »
This is something I came across about 18 months ago.  I signed up for it and I stress at this point I have no commercial interest in the organization other than I think it is a very good idea for outdoor people like us and bring it to your attention on that basis.

It’s called Cram Alert and is an emergency alerting service in respect of someone being found injured or worse. It works on the basis that you have registered with the organisation and have provided them with next of kin details and details of medical conditions.  When out and about you wear a small wristband which has an emergency contact number on it and a unique reference number. 

To quote from the web site: 

Cram-Alert Sport ID has been developed to provide ‘peace of mind and assurance’ to you and to your family.

If you become ill, are involved in an accident or just need assistance; providing you are wearing your Cram-Alert wristband; you or someone helping you will be able to contact the Cram-Alert 24/7 Emergency Response Team who in turn will contact your next-of-kin and have access to your registered medical conditions, crisis plans and required medication for use by the emergency services.


Now I am someone who does a lot of walking alone and even if I am with a group then essentially the majority of the group members are strangers to each other and know very little of who you are and certainly would hardly know any medical condition that needed to be taken into account should you require treatment.   Or whom in your family to contact.

The service was started by Steve Cram one-time golden boy of British middle distance running.  His motivation for starting the service was that his brother was out running, fell, struck his head and died.  He was found but had no identity on him.  It took three days for him to be identified and his family advised.

The Cram Alert web site is http://www.cramalert.co.uk/

And if any one is interested in the story behind the service’s inception then check out this web site.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1043147/Steve-Cram-I-lost-brother-running-accident---Im-life-saving-crusade.html
« Last Edit: December 08, 2012, 02:24:39 PM by Lyle Brotherton »

Lyle Brotherton

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2012, 07:50:42 AM »
Getting thru to the Emergency Services is a subject that I have spent a great deal of time researching, having attended many incidents with Seasrch & Rescuye Teams where, if the people had understood better how to do this, more lives may have been saved.

I am currently filming a series of videos about exactly how to do this, the first one loaded a couple of days ago, with more to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_txnRoDEsAs
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Lost Soul

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2012, 09:11:45 AM »
To aviod any confusion I should add that calling Cram Alert is not a call to be made in place of calling the Emergency Services.  Its in addition to and after the emergency services have been called.  The emergency services themselves will or should make the call.  Particularly as they are the only organizations that the Cram Alert call centre will divulge your personal information too.  Any way the web site explains all. http://www.cramalert.co.uk

Pete McK

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2012, 09:37:17 AM »
Superb video Lyle and one I intend to show to my class in school, this really is must know knowledge, as it is equally appropriate for use in towns and cities, as it is in the hills and mountains.

Egg

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2012, 09:45:37 PM »
Excellent video Lyle.
I didn't know about the 999 text service.
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John-C

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2012, 06:48:03 AM »
Lyle, can you also text to 112?  if so, do you need to register on that number as well as 999?

Callum

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2012, 08:18:31 AM »
This new video is, as always, informative, concise and to the point Lyle and I agree with Pete Mck, one that should be viewed by a larger audience.

We have a ski trip planned to France and I was wondering if you know if other countries have the texting service to contact the emergency services and if so how you register?

The 112 makes it much more straight-forward to get help in France, where it is probably the most confusing of all countries when contacting the emergency services, having four different numbers for the police, fire, ambulance and mountain rescue.

Lyle Brotherton

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2012, 08:43:01 AM »
John C wrote:"Lyle, can you also text to 112?  if so, do you need to register on that number as well as 999?"

John the texting service is only available using the number 999 – there are no plans currently to change this. The system is an evolution of a similar one that was initially offered to people with speech or hearing difficulties. It was firstly made available to the public in Scotland, aimed at mountaineers and hill walkers, as the ability of the BT & C&W EOCC (Emergency Operator Centres) was limited if there is a mass response to 999 texting. Subsequently it has been rolled out across the UK yet interesting not widely advertised, I suspect capacity may still be an issue for the EOCs

Callum wrote:
"We have a ski trip planned to France and I was wondering if you know if other countries have the texting service to contact the emergency services and if so how you register?"

In Holland it was made available for people with a speech or hearing difficulty in July this year, and is being run as a pilot until July 2013, after which a decision will be made if it is to be rolled out to the general public.

I will contact the various SAR organisations I have worked with across the world to establish where there are similar text services available, what you have to do to register and what number you have to use and will publish them on the forum, in a new thread under the Emergency & Emergency Equipment heading, as and when I receive replies. I will then compile all of this information into a PDF file that folk can download.

Any Forum members living overseas your help would be greatly appreciated.
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Lyle Brotherton

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2012, 01:38:02 PM »
France is a classic example of where it is difficult for visitors to know exactly which number to call, in addition their emergency services play different roles to the ones we are used to in the UK.

Dialling the following numbers for the respective emergency services:

15 for SAMU (The medical emergency/accidents/ambulance service)
18 for Les Sapeurs Pompiers (Fire Brigade) for fires PLUS medical emergencies, including traffic and domestic accidents.
17 for Police (Police Nationale or Gendarmerie) this number connects you with the nearest of these two police forces for emergencies.
Mountain rescue
+33 (0)4 50 53 16 89 Mountain Rescue (PGHM) this number varies by region, the example given is for the Chamonix team.


Conversely dial 112 when in France for any of the above!

I will start a new post in Emergency & Emergency Equipment
“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance” - Plato

Lost Soul

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Re: Emergency Alerting Service "Cram Alert"
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2012, 01:36:56 PM »
OK back to Cram Alert.  Lyle has provided us with some very valuable information on calling the emergency services (http://micronavigation.com/forum/index.php?topic=417.0) and made it quite clear that time is of the essence when dealing with situations if unnecessary deaths are to be avoided.  In that vein the Cram Alert system can be of help.  Using the phone number and identity code on the wrist band the MRT or whom-ever can make contact with the response centre and gain additional vital information about who the casualty is and if there are any medical conditions that need to be taken into account to avoid further aggravating the situation.

I do believe services like this should be promoted by MRTs the emergency services and other rescue organisation for the likes of us who go off into wild spaces and not so wild spaces and beyond.  After all this type of service is you helping the rescuers to help you in the unfortunate event that you do need help and are not in a condition to properly communicate your identity and needs etc.
« Last Edit: December 08, 2012, 04:42:07 PM by Lyle Brotherton »

Callum

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Re: Cram Alert
« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2012, 05:36:40 PM »
Great posting Lost Soul and something I will be definitely talking to my colleagues about at our centre on Monday :)

Lyle Brotherton

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Re: Cram Alert
« Reply #11 on: December 08, 2012, 06:04:31 PM »
I agree, it is something I will also speak to my mountain rescue colleagues about, thanks lost soul :)
“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance” - Plato

Callum

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Re: Cram Alert
« Reply #12 on: December 12, 2012, 08:43:34 AM »
Lost Soul, after our mtg we at the centre have decided to adopt this scheme, Thx :)

Lost Soul

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Re: Cram Alert
« Reply #13 on: December 12, 2012, 09:18:07 AM »
Hi Callum, thanks for the feed back.  Plaesed to have been of service.  Hope you never have to use it.

Callum

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Re: Cram Alert
« Reply #14 on: December 12, 2012, 09:24:36 AM »
Me too Lost Soul, but knowing it is in place is both a comfort and builds upon my Duty of Care for myself, my colleagues and our students. Thx again :)