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News presenter Claire Byrne launches meningitis Freefone 24 hour helpline
20 June 2006
Claire Byrne today launched Meningitis Research Foundation's Freefone 24 hour helpline - 1800 41 33 44. This comes at a time when Ireland sees almost 300 cases of meningitis and septicaemia each year, with half the number of cases in the under fives.
This Freefone helpline service is available in Ireland and is operated around the clock, 365 days a year by trained staff and nurses, to help those who are worried about someone they suspect may have meningitis and septicaemia, and provide general information to the public and health professionals.
Providing the helpline as a Freefone service will enable callers to obtain potentially life-saving symptoms information absolutely FREE of charge.
Meningitis and septicaemia, the blood poisoning form, are devastating diseases which can kill in hours. Although most cases do tend to occur in the autumn and winter months people need to be aware of the symptoms throughout the year, including the summer months. Having the Foundation's Freefone 24 hour helpline number to hand will hopefully ensure that more people will phone for their FREE symptoms pack and lives will be saved in the future.
Claire Byrne, Meningitis Research Foundation's patron and Ireland's Favourite News Presenter in the TV Now Awards said: "I know just how devastating meningitis can be as I contracted it when I was just 14 years old and was very fortunate to make a full recovery. I am therefore really pleased to launch Meningitis Research Foundation's Freefone 24 hour helpline facility for the people of Ireland. It is so important to be able to get potentially life-saving information 24 hours a day, and now it is possible to do so free of charge."
Meningitis Research Foundation Ireland Manager Diane McConnell commented: "The Foundation has been raising awareness of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia in Ireland since 1992 - some 14 years. Whilst we have always provided a 24 hour helpline in Ireland we are delighted that we are now able to provide this service without any cost to the caller, getting more life-saving symptoms information out into the community.
"Call the Freefone helpline now on 1800 41 33 44 and get FREE symptoms information. You never know when you may need this information to save a life!"
Media Contact: Diane McConnell - 01 819 6931
Notes to Editor: * Calls to the previous LoCall helpline number - 1890 41 33 44 - will be automatically diverted.
* Information on meningitis and septicaemia is also available on this website in 18 languages. An interpretation service in 120 languages is available through the Freefone 24 hour helpline - 1800 41 33 44.
* Meningitis Research Foundation's helpline has been awarded the prestigious Telephone Helplines Association accreditation.
* Meningitis Research Foundation is currently funding 21 research projects to a total value of in excess €3.6 million, and has by far the largest commitment of any meningitis charity.
Symptoms of meningitis:
Severe headache; stiff neck*; dislike of bright lights*; fever; vomiting; drowsy and less responsive/vacant; rash; seizures (fits) may also be seen. (*Unusual in young children.)
Symptoms of septicaemia (blood poisoning form of the disease):
Rash; fever; vomiting; cold hands and feet; shivering; abnormal colour (pallor or mottling); rapid or unusual breathing; limb/joint/muscle pain; abdominal pain (sometimes with diarrhoea); drowsy and less responsive/vacant.
Other symptoms in babies include:
tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); blotchy skin, getting paler or turning blue; refusing to feed; being irritable when picked up with a high pitched or moaning dry; a stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.