MedicAlert Awareness Month was created by the MedicAlert Foundation in honor of 14-year-old Linda Collins. She went into anaphylactic shock and nearly died during a standard medical procedure. Linda and her father, following the incident, thought of the idea of a bracelet with special medical instructions that alerts medical personnel of things that you cannot otherwise express.
Over the next decade, MedicAlert bracelets became gained prominent in the medical field and now, MedicAlert ID has affiliates in nine countries including the US, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, and Malaysia. Of course, there is some information you should take note of before purchasing.

Who Needs a Medical ID Bracelet?

There are a variety of conditions that you should wear a medical ID for. As a rule of thumb, if the condition can alter the treatment you might receive, you should consider purchasing an ID for it. If you are a caregiver, you should wear an ID for that as well in order to alert medical personnel of your loved one who might need attention.
Some conditions that may warrant a medical ID necklace or bracelet are: pulmonary conditions, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, dementia, diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension, kidney failure, pacemakers, stroke, and special needs. For a longer list of who should purchase a medical ID bracelet or necklace, visit americanmedical-id.com/faq. (1)

What Should Be Engraved On My MedicAlert ID

There are four things that you should engrave on your medical bracelet:

• Your Condition/Diagnosis
• Allergies (if any)
• Your First and Last Name
• Your Emergency Contact’s Information

A full address isn’t always necessary unless your diagnosis specifically warrants it. Other personal information like a social security number is definitely not necessary. Use upper and lower case and abbreviations when possible. Some typical abbreviations are ICE for in case of emergency and NO PCN for no penicillin. Additionally, simply noting which medications you’re taking by engraving the name of the medication itself. If you have no allergies, noting that with the abbreviation NKA is acceptable and of course, always denote if there’s more information on the back of the medical bracelet, add ‘see other side.’

Other common abbreviations are:

• A-fib (Atrail Fibrillation)
• BP (Blood Pressure)
• CV (Cardiovascular)
• EpiPen (Epinephrine Pen)
• GI (Gastointesinal)
• VT/V Tach (Ventricular Tachycardia

What Do EMTs Look for On A Patient

When EMTs arrive on a scene, they are trained to look for a medical ID bracelet first, then for medical wallet cards. It’s important to keep your medical alert bracelet in a visible place. You want them to be able to find your information so that they can begin treating you appropriately with knowledge of your conditions or allergies.

What Are the Benefits of Wearing a Medical ID

There are so many benefits of wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace. For starters, in the event that you cannot speak for yourself, this bracelet will speak for you. Similarly, it will eliminate potential issues like misdiagnosed symptoms, slow or delayed diagnosis, and other potentially harmful medical errors or mistakes. You can also eliminate trips to the hospital and prevent minor emergencies from becoming more major by wearing a medical ID. They can save lives and give EMTs a brief description of basic medical facts about you that will ensure timely care.

If you have a condition that calls for a MedicAlert bracelet, it’s so important to order one. MedicAlert bracelets save lives. They can make or break your quality of care if you have a chronic condition, an allergy, or take medications. Get started on selecting a MedicAlert ID online here. In the event of a medical emergency, call ABBA Medical Transportation.