Grampian Fire and Rescue Service has, for the past 2 years, been working with the Asthma Support in Rural Scotland (ASIRUS) charity to assist their members during an emergency through the Grid Reference Identification Project (GRIP.)

Smoke can seriously affect an asthma sufferer and may make communications impossible for them should they ever make an emergency call. The idea behind the GRIP project is that they only need to quote their unique GRIP number, or even just call 999 from the registered phone number, should they find themselves in an emergency situation. The GRIP number, or the phone number, when processed by the Service's Control Room will bring up the caller's details. This information will include the callers name, address and medical condition, and will cause the Fire Service to make an immediate response and to automatically inform the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Duncan Elliot, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service's Control Room Manager, said, "The technology to support people who might face additional difficulties in communication in the very distressing event of a Fire or other emergency is already in place. The work that has been done with ASIRUS and the GRIP project gives the Fire Service the information it needs to get help to someone in distress both quickly and accurately and to make sure that appropriate medical help is called immediately."

Asthma sufferers have been identified by their GP. Working with ASIRUS, they have been asked to complete a simple form which includes their name, address, telephone number, map grid reference and medical condition, all of which is passed on to Grampian Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

In the event of a call from the registered number, the Control Room staff will address the caller by name and, even if the caller is unable to speak, turn out a fire crew for a house fire, as well as informing the Ambulance Service of the call and the need for help.

Although this particular event is particularly for Asthma sufferers, the system can be extended for use by people with other medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, heart problems and allergic conditions.

Maria Murray, chronic asthma sufferer and founder of the ASIRUS charity, will be joined by Angus Farquharson OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire and Patron of ASIRUS, and Duncan Elliot, Grampian Fire and Rescue Service's Control Room manager, as well as a number of invited guests from the Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Grampian, the GRIP project liaison officer Nicky Fraser and others for the launch of this valuable service to people of the North of Scotland.