The importance of having an emergency plan in place
Do you have an emergency plan in place to ensure the person you care for is looked after in your absence?
The Carers Emergency Card (CEC) scheme is an initiative run by Wiltshire Council and managed by Carer Support Wiltshire. It offers peace of mind and reassurance that things will be taken care of in case of an accident or emergency. The card is available to carers aged 18 or over who are caring for someone who lives in Wiltshire (excluding Swindon).
How the emergency card works
You will be provided with a credit card-sized emergency card and key-ring which you can take with you when you’re out and about which means, should anything happen, the emergency services will see that you are a carer and that someone back home needs to be looked after. We can also supply you with a car window sticker should anything happen when you’re out on the roads.
The card only carries your unique emergency card number and contact details for the Carers Emergency Card scheme so you can be assured that no personal information is recorded on the card.
Once you have been identified as a carer your emergency plan will be put in place.
Discounts through the Wiltshire Passport and CarerSmart
Every carer who registers for an emergency card is notified of the Wiltshire Passport, a card which enables carers to access discounts at participating beauty salons, cafés, domestic services, mechanics, leisure centres and retailers across Wiltshire.
A full list of participating businesses is available here.
CarerSmart is the Carers Trust’s exclusive club for carers and people with care needs. It is a national scheme providing members with exclusive offers, benefits, discounts and advice and is free to join by logging on to www.carersmart.org
How to apply/who to contact for more information
The best way to apply is using this online link: Carers Emergency Card Online Application.
Alternatively, if you need to fill in a form by hand, you can download a form to print off here: CEC Registration Form Hard Copy. If you need a printed copy of the form sent to you, or if you require a large print version, please contact us (see next paragraph for details). Please ensure that you print out and complete all of the pages before you send the form to us.
Once we’ve processed all your details, we will then get your unique card sent out to you.
For more information about the free scheme, or to request a printed form, simply email Emma Corkill, Carers Emergency Card Administrator, at [email protected] or telephone 0800 066 5068.
