In an emergency situation, communicating details of your medical condition can be life-saving, and if you are unresponsive or in a confused state, medical ID tags can be the best way to let paramedics or medical personnel know exactly what the situation is.
A medical alert tag is a type of identification tag worn on a bracelet, necklace or on clothing that contains medical information about the wearer. It can include detail such as what medical conditions you suffer from, any medication you are taking and any allergies you may have.
Medical ID bracelets are worn by sufferers of certain medical conditions for an emergency situation where they are incapacitated or unable to answer, in order to let emergency responders identify and understand the situation that they are dealing with.
Certain medical ID’s deal with specific ailments or situations. For example, an allergy ID bracelet or diabetes bracelets are designed to specifically denote that information, but a general medical ID bracelet is the more common type.
Modern day medical bracelets can use electronic tags such as a USD flash drive to store the information, but the more common type is traditional engraved jewelry, often made out of sterling silver, gold or stainless steel.
As medical ID jewelry has grown more common, it has become somewhat of a trend and it is possible these days to buy all kinds of styles of medical ID bracelets and necklaces to suit your taste.
Medical alert jewelry can come in all shapes and sizes, and can be engraved with different amounts of information, so when choosing medical ID jewelry it is important to note how much information you need to put on it.
Any information put on a medical ID bracelet should be accurate, easy-to-read and up to date. The purpose of the jewelry is to get across as many details as possible in a clear and concise manner.
NameYou should always include your name on any medical ID bracelet as it allows first responders to immediately identify and address you.
Some people choose to engrave their first name only, or engrave their first name on one side of the tag, and family name on the other side. It is important to remember, however, that having your full name engraved on any medical bracelet can allow emergency aid to be administered properly and allow first responders to access any medical history that may be necessary.
Medical conditionsIt is absolutely essential to include as much as medical information on a medical ID bracelet including medical conditions as it can allow emergency responders to provide the correct aid and potentially save your life.
Good examples of medical conditions to have on your medical ID bracelet include diabetes, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, dementia, or any heart condition you may suffer from.
If a medical condition will not fit on your medical ID tag, you can abbreviate the letters, but it is important to check and use abbreviations that are recognized by emergency aid providers.
Examples of some abbreviations include:Allergy - ALGYCongestive Heart Disease – GHDInsulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus – IDDMHearing Impaired – HIMultiple Sclerosis – MSNo Known Allergies – NKAPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSDParkinson’s Disease - PD
AllergiesNoting any allergies you suffer from can be life-saving, so it is also important to include this information. Examples can include allergies to food, insects, certain types of metals and even allergies to medications, for example an allergy to penicillin.
If you suffer from severe allergies that require you to carry around an epinephrine autoinjector, also known as an epipen, consider having this engraved on your medical ID bracelet too, as it can assist emergency responders in locating and delivering the necessary shot.
Any prescribed medication you take on a long-term basis should also be engraved on your ID, which would prevent any drug interaction from being given too much, or different types of medication.
Emergency contact
It is highly recommended to include an In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact on your medical ID bracelet. This can be a name and phone number or just a necessary phone number, and is to act as an emergency contact in case you are unable to respond.
An emergency contact should be someone familiar with your medical condition, and ideally someone who is reachable and preferably lives nearby.
An emergency contact is especially recommended for young children, sufferers from dementia or Alzheimer’s, or people with autism.
Emergency responders are trained to look for medical ID bracelets. They know that it can help them to deliver immediate and effective treatments in an emergency situation if you are unconscious or unable to speak.
A medical ID is the most simple and effective way to communicate vital medical information to paramedics or medical personnel and the most common places responders are trained to check is around the neck or wrist for a medical ID necklace or bracelet, as they are easier to find in an emergency.
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