Emergency Recordable Bag

Are you a caregiver? Do you ever need to leave a message but wish you could speak the information instead of writing it down? If so, this project may be for you. The idea for the project struck me after seeing an ad for the Speakin' Up! 30 sec. Audio Recorder. Also, being from Louisiana and having had family impacted by Katrina, I thought of the issues that came up from poor communication and memory.

This nifty product, and ones like it, will allow you to record a message up to 30 seconds long. You can record a new message over the old one or disable the rerecord feature to make your message permanent. One of the problems that evacuees experienced going to the places like the Superdome was that they were not allowed to keep their medications. Sounds silly, but it just shows how you need to be prepared for emergencies. You can use this Emergency Recordable Bag (ERB) to make a list of the medications that your children, partner, or parents are taking, as well as contact information in case you get separated as happened with Katrina. This way, if your loved one is relocated to another shelter, medical personnel have the kind of information they need to treat urgent medical conditions. You could also write this information down, but redundancy is a good thing, especially in an emergency.

You could also use the ERB when you take small children out in large gatherings. Sometimes, they get separated from you. The ERB would contain your contact information in case of such an event or another emergency. If your child is of age, teach the child to play back the recording. The slide out battery compartment of The Speakin' Up recorder makes changing the battery a snap. The device was originally designed for scrapbookers to store audio memories.

This is a useful product because it provides a means of communicating messages to and about loved ones who may need help during an emergency.

Supplies needed:
old t-shirt (I chose red)
thread
a long shoe string
Speakin' Up Recorder (or similar device)
Re-sealable waterproof plastic bag
Sewing machine
Needles
Pins

My Etsy listing for the finished ERB is at: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6328129

Step 1 Cut the sleeve off on an old t-shirt

I used an old red t-shirt to make my ERB. Upcycling materials is important to me. I chose a red shirt to signify that this bag was important. I decided to use the sleeve for this project because it was just the right size to hold the audio device. Use a good pair of sewing scissors and cut off the sleeve at the seam.

Comments

[hammer9876]

Great idea! One thing though: Always put the MOST important part of the information at the beginning. Someone can hit play to repeat it and not have to listen to the whole thing again. (I hate it when I check my phone messages someone has mumbled their phone number at the end as an afterthought. "Please leave your name, phone number and THEN a message after the beep. Please speak slowly and clearly. I can not return your phone call if I can not understand your message.")

[Morte_Moya]

As a teacher I can see the promise of this idea. I love it!!! I have worked with special needs children and this is just the kind of thing that I know would give some parents a better feeling when letting there children go places without them. Nice job!!!

[container_gardener]

I think that this would also benefit people who are suffering from dementia, or other memory related illnesses.

[SugarTeen52]

I'm hoping this will be of help: I know this step must have been hard to illustrate using words. You still did a pretty good job at this, but maybe you could edit some more notes on the picture. For example: Place boxes around the ends of the hole in the seam and put the words, "These are the ends of the 1-inch hole in the seam." Then put a box where the hole will be cut, and say, "Cut a one-inch hole here." I hope I don't come across as being pushy about someone else's Instructable, because that's not what I'm trying to do. : ) I lovethe way you plan ahead in this Instructable. It's really well done!'