How Many Of You Carry A Medical Card Or Bracelet?

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How Many Of You Carry A Medical Card Or Bracelet?

  • Emergency Medical Card Only

    Votes: 7 41.2%
  • Card and Bracelet

    Votes: 5 29.4%
  • Card and Neckless

    Votes: 5 29.4%
  • Bracelet or Neckless

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    17
  • Poll closed .

Ross

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2001
Messages
25,981
Location
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Right now, I have only a card and I'm curious as to how many others are carrying what they should be. Still working on the bracelet or neckless here.
 
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I carry several cards in my wallet, 2 medicalert cards and my
St. Jude implant card. When I was younger I had a medic alert necklace that said I had aortic and mitral insufficiency and needed SBE protection. The necklace was 10k gold and cost a pretty penny. I have since been wanting to get a bracelet from the medic alert "classic" collection. I need a bracelet that is updated that I had surgery and am on Coumadin. I keep the old necklace hanging in my car, just in case. I believe all of us should have the proper ID cause you just never know. Everyone stay safe and take care.
 
Joe's got a Medic Alert necklace, card for his wallet to which I have attached a small print list of his current meds, drug allergies and his doctors and other emergency numbers, he also carries all his implant cards. He doesn't go anywhere without them, even if he's with me.
 
Hi Ross,
I wear a MedicAlert necklace indicating I have a prosthetic valve and am on Coumadin. Important stuff if you're injured and unconscious. Also carry the St. Jude 'Owner's Manual" in my wallet. ( No warranty though...)
Les
AVR '93 / '95
"I Click Because I Can"
 
Hi Ross! You know Ive never really thought about wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace. i carry my valve repair card in my wallet and I have a list of meds Im on, my doctors info, etc but I need to get that bracelet or necklace. Thanks for prompting me into doing so. I always enjoy reading your posts. You are so inspirational to all of us.:)
 
I have my St. Jude card as well as the emergency medical card and Greenfield Filter card. I really need to get a bracelet or neckless. I was talking to some people at my Coumadin Clinic this morning and was shocked to know that most all of them carry nothing. The older and wiser ones do, but the younger crowd still don't. I had to do this poll to find out how many of us are really doing what we should be doing anyway.
 
Hi Ross,

This is a very good alert/reminder for everyone! I wear a medic alert necklace and bracelet. I also carry my St Judes card/Dr's info/Rx info at all times. I feel it can't be overdone. In case of (God forbid) an accident, one never knows what you will be separated from. EMT's and hospitals need this info! I hope eveyone has or gets these possible life saving alerts.

Zipper *~*
 
I have both a necklace and a bracelet and alternate between whihc one I wear sometimes the bracelet bugs other times the necklace. I have a medic alert card in my wallet.
 
Having a homograft, I was told I did not have to worry about a medic alert. I'm not on coumadin or anything. Does anyone else with a homograft wear an ID?
 
Jean,
I have a homograft and think that it is important to have a medic alert card and bracelet/necklace. The reason is that, should you ever be in an accident or be unconscious, unable to respond, when a medic sees the scar on your chest assumptions may be made in a hurry. Since homografts are in the minority for valve replacements, certain procedures may be avoided for you because they believe you ARE on Coumadin. Also, you have some metal in your chest where your sternum was repaired that, under an MRI, are going to heat up. Finally, any and all meds you are on are important to know about in an emergency.

I have a card, a necklace, and the relevant info engraved on the switchblade I carry in my motorcyle boot (OK, I'm kidding about that last one), and even though next month I will likely not be taking any meds at all any more, I think it is important for emergency personnel to know exactly what they are--or are not--dealing with.

--John
 
Bracelet and St. Jude's card

Bracelet and St. Jude's card

I ordered my bracelet from a brochure I picked up at Eckard's Drug store. Most Pharmacist have brochures around their counters somewhere. Mine is light weight gold. Never know I have it on.
 
I have a homograft, too, the Ross Procedure, and I have the medic alert stuff for the reasons John gave. I wouldn't want to get pumped full of Vitamin K or something because they thought I was on Coumadin. And the Coumadiners would want medics to know right away about the Coumadin.
Plus, you just want them to know. Also, Medic Alert calls your family and your doctor. And you can even get that upgrade thing for overseas travel that gives you money to get out of some third world country and back to real medical care. (Some of you might remember my posts about David's aunt's car crash in Barbados. She's on warfarin and no one knew until 6 hours later when the Brabados authorities finally called her family in Scotland. She is still having troubles because of the poor quality of care she received in Barbados. Her leg was broken and has not healed correctly so she is looking at surgery, long physical therapy, or just plain walking with a limp forever, and she will need to have her wrist surgically re-broken and re-set so she can get range of motion and feeling back).
There are lots of good reasons for a medical alert bracelet.
 
Hi Janie
Yep it's thru Medic Alert. If you go on their website it's under member benefits and it's called Travel Plus. Here:MedicAlert® TravelPlusSM will:
Help you find a doctor when you are out of the country
Contact your family members
Provide up to $100,000 towards the necessary expense of evacuation to a qualified hospital or repatriation in a medical emergency
Provide 24 hour access to information services including visa, passport and immunization requirements for your destination.
It costs $100 a year.

The site says it is available only to U.S. residents at this time. So, it sounds like a great idea for those who travel, especially if you are going to exotic places. I would think you'd have no problem in Western Europe.
-Mara
 
I've had my bracelet since I was about 7 or 8. My mom got it for me. I had a necklace at one time, but it choked me at night, then I'd forget to put it on in the morning. My bracelet never comes off my arm. I had the same bracelet for a number of years, and finally had to have a new one made in July. I wanted to make sure it included the fact that I'm on coumadin. When I was young I hated wearing it and usually didn't, until an EMT told me that it was a good idea, since I have a pacemaker and if an EMT were to try to use the defib paddles on me, it could make the pacemaker explode. I don't know if that is true or not, but it sure scared me into wearing it from then on. And then, my college roommate convinced me to wear it on my left (instead of right) arm because of the fact that it tells that I have no accurate BP in the left arm. Been there ever since. Well, I may have taken it off for my wedding, but put it back on before leaving the chapel. ;)
 
I notice you didn't want to know how many had NOTHING!!

They sent me home from the hospital with a form from Medic-Alert and I ordered a necklace/pendant within a week. Mechanical valve, Coumadin, and allery to penicillin .Only take it off for showers. Also, have all the cards in my wallet.

My wife asked about taking it off in bed. I said no, some event in our home(explosion, burglary, plane or car crash) could make that info necessary even in my own bed at night. I hope not, but what good is the thing hanging or lying on my nightstand if the info is needed.

Don't be without it.

They are working on their website(MedicAlert). Boy does it need it. Very User unfriendly. I ended up ordering by phone.
 
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I wear a medic alert bracelet that states that I have a aortic valve replaced, am on Coumadin, and allergic to penicillin.

I carry both a Medic Alert card and St. Jude registration card in my wallet.

I also carry a laminated copy of my EKG printout in my briefcase, with notations from my cardiologist explaining that my inverted T-wave is "normal" for me. This was my doctor's idea, thinking that it might come in handy if something should happen when I was traveling on business.

The only time I don't wear my bracelet is when I'm working on my car when it would be a safety hazzard.

Mark
 
medic alert bracelet

medic alert bracelet

I wear a medic alert bracelet that states that I have a bovine aortic valve, a pacemaker, and allergic to penicillin. I carry cards that give the details of both the valve and the pacemaker. I also have an emergency notification card that tells who to call, etc. None of the cards give any other details because they are not required and would complicate any emergency process.
I don't remove the bracelet because of the trouble of putting it back on. I fell at choir practice due to instability caused by my progressing peripheral neuropathy and badly bruised my right shoulder and body. Had that been on the left side I would have been in serious trouble and the bracelet information necessary. This can be serious business and precautions are adviseable.
:(
 
Albert has a Medic Alert necklace which he never takes off. He also carries cards in his wallet. The necklace was important when he collapsed and lost consciousness two years ago at a local restaurant.
 
Bill Alridge

Bill Alridge

What would happen if you slipped on a bar of soap in the shower:eek: :eek: :eek: and got knocked out...:eek: :eek: and didn't have your necklace on when the EMT came in????Bonnie:D
 
Bracelet here

Bracelet here

I wear a Medic Alert® bracelet 24/7. It's too hard to take off so it never comes off. It says Aortic Valve Replaced, takes Coumadin.

I also carry a card with all my meds listed, my medic alert card, and my St. Jude's card. Like Mark, I carry a laminated copy of my EKG. My cardio says that it will help EMT's if I'm ever in need.

I don't know how it works in other states, but right on my warfarin bottle is a warning label that says, "Carry a medical indentification bracelet or card stating that you are taking this drug." It's a good idea.
 
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