Most people know someone (like me) that wears medical identification (ID) jewelry (necklace or bracelet) is worn around their neck or wrist. It has information about your identity and your medical conditions. This can help emergency care providers know right away how to help you if you are not able to speak.
Information about you and your emergency contacts can be etched on the jewelry. The jewelry can be made of different materials, which include plastics, rubber, metal, gold, silver, cloisonne, pewter, and stainless steel. (Temporary medical alert tattoos are also available if this is a viable option for you.) Have you ever wondered about the history behind medical alert jewelry?
In 1963, the American Medical Association (AMA) designed a special symbol that would alert emergency medical personnel of special medical conditions when they found someone who could not communicate. This symbol was made available at no cost to any manufacturer of bracelets, necklaces, wallet cards or any other devices that could be used to warn others of a need for special emergency care.
The news about the new symbol was distributed in the U.S. and abroad. Through the years a handful of manufacturers produced such items, but it wasn't until the advent of computer engraving that such items became more attractive. Since the coming of the Internet age there has been an explosion of medical alert jewelry providers. The symbols vary and from the authentic AMA logo but all are recognized because they are similar.
Wearing medical alert jewelry can alert Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) of some of the following medical conditions:
1.
Alzheimer’s disease: When people
have Alzheimer’s disease, their neurological function can vary from day to day,
and they become increasingly forgetful and disoriented. It’s very easy for
someone with Alzheimer’s to become confused, wander, and get lost. Caregivers
often order medical ID jewelry for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s in order
to safeguard them if they wander and to let EMTs and ER personnel know that an
altered mental state is the patient’s baseline.
2.
Athletes: Athletes, especially cyclists, walkers, and runners who exercise outdoors, alone, and
over long distances, often order medical ID jewelry so that they can have a
form of ID on them at all times without having to actually carry anything while
biking, walking, or running.
3.
Caregivers: When people are solely responsible
for the well being of others, such as when a parent cares for a disabled child
or a grown child cares for an aging parent with Alzheimer’s, they often wear
medical ID jewelry as ICE (In Case of Emergency) IDs.
An ICE ID bears the most important information
about the caregiver, those she’s assisting, and how to reach a secondary care
provider. This helps EMTs and Emergency Room (ER) personnel provide the
appropriate assistance to all parties while also enabling them to contact
another caregiver to help.
4.
Children:
They don’t carry driver’s licenses. Many parents today have their kids wear ICE
IDs with their name and emergency contact phone numbers in the event that their
child is involved in an accident, and needs to be identified and reunited with
their parents. If a child is lost, they may panic and forget their phone
number(s). An ICE ID ensures that your child always has your number on hand.
5.
Diabetes: Whether you have Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes,
wearing medical ID jewelry is imperative. First responders tell us that knowing
whether someone is diabetic is one of the most important pieces of information
they can be given on an accident scene because they can administer a blood
sugar test and provide insulin or sugar as needed to help the person
immediately. Without that information, it would take much longer to assist
someone.
6.
Disability: People with autism, cerebral palsy,
mental retardation, developmental disabilities, cognitive disabilities, and
physical disabilities often wear medical ID jewelry. If people are unable to
speak or advocate for themselves, they should always wear a medical ID jewelry
with their medical and emergency contact information engraved on it.
Even people who
do not have impaired cognitive function but do have physical challenges should
wear medical ID jewelry so that EMTs are aware of their baseline in the event of
an accident.
7.
Drug allergies: People with drug allergies often
wear medical ID jewelry even if they have no other conditions. Why? Because you
never know when you’re going to be in a situation in which you’re unable to
advocate for yourself.
8.
Epilepsy: When adults or children have seizure disorders or epilepsy,
wearing medical ID jewelry is imperative. For EMTs knowing up front that a
person has a history of seizures or epilepsy helps tremendously because they
know the seizure isn’t a new symptom or event, but rather an ongoing condition.
If a person
were not identified as having a seizure disorder, the EMTs would be looking for
causes of the seizure such as head trauma, injury, or illness.
9.
Food allergies: No matter how careful you are,
there’s always a risk of cross-contamination or random exposure when you have
food allergies. While it’s important to tell the people you’re around the most
about your food allergies and teach them how to respond in an emergency.
Sometimes reactions happen when you’re alone or with strangers.
Wearing a
medical ID bracelet that reads, “Shellfish Allergy / Give EpiPen / Call 911”
means that people will look on your person or in your bag for an EpiPen and
know that your reaction is likely to be severe enough that they should
immediately call for emergency medical assistance.
10.
Gastric bypass surgery: Gastric bypass
surgery patients should always wear medical ID jewelry. EMTs need to know if
someone has had a gastric bypass because gastric bypass patients cannot have
blind nasogastric
tube (NG) tubes inserted through the nose into
the stomach.
Patients who have
had a gastric bypass must make sure in case this procedure is needed, or in an
emergency situation that the tube is not inserted .This means it needs to be
positioned through a guided x-ray to position correctly, and not puncture the
stomach pouch.
“Get your loved one a medical ID bracelet or
pendant that includes his or her name and pertinent medical information in case
of emergency.” (WebMD)[i]
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| Medical Identification
jewelry
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[i] Sources used:
·
History of
Medical ID Bracelets” by PeanutAllergy.com
·
“Medical Alert Bracelet” by WebMD
·
“Top
Ten Reasons People Wear Medical ID Jewelry”
by y Jenna White
·
“What Is
Blind NG Tube?” by Daily Strength Support Group
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