Medical alert IDs
- Thread starter Aggie85
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slipkid
Well-known member
I talked to an EMT the other day, happened to run into one in a store. I asked him if without a medical alert tag would he see that I have a chest scar from open heart surgery and what that would mean to him etc. He said that definitely he (or any) EMT would notice that and know that it means some kind of heart operation issue, and they would keep that in mind and look for more info on the patient/in the wallet/etc. Take that with a grain of salt though. Perhaps a different EMT might not, or emergency circumstances might change things (?).
Question - what info is most important to put on an alert tag? I realize Coumadin is. As well as any serious drug allergies. Emergency contacts. Dr. name & #'s. Perhaps the valve replacement info. Patient name for id.
But what about other drugs - like blood pressure or statins? I think my meds could change (I hope to be off the blood pressure med at some point) and don't want to have them engraved on an ID if they change (how critical is it to mention a statin?). Was thinking of putting something like "see ID card" for some of these (like the statin).
Opinions?
Aggie85
Well-known member
Slipkid,
That was kind of my idea too. Quick alert for Coumadin, name, DOB (since everyone asks). I like idea of directing them to wallet too for further info. if they have time or need. But at least ID has most pertinent immediate info. No guessing what that scar means. Yes, they'll see the scar and warns them about heart issue, but not necessarily why I'm bleeding so much or that I might need to get started on heparin ASAP for bridging purposes, or to check INR ASAP for any coagulation issues, ect...
I have the wallet valve IDs the companies sent me in my wallet now (MRIs can be effected by these so radiology needs to know what's there). Need to copy them actually and keep originals in safer place. I've also had them copied into my official medical records. That was the one thing my cardiologist did agree with, NEED TO CARRY VALVE INFO WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. He thought ID not necessary except maybe for saying about the Coumadin, but I had to carry that valve info.
I plan to put also that I have an interrupted Femoral Vein pathway because it's very unusual but that would only be on a card (for one thing too long and yet not intuitively obvious acronym for), and unlikely a cath would be done on me before I was alert enough to tell them this but something that absolutely should be known before a cath.
My concern is not always having something on for any number of reasons. So, will look into a small tattoo on wrist as well.
The IDs are cheap and easy to work into our lives, so why not? Better safe than sorry.
Granted, I still haven't ordered mine.
Linda
That was kind of my idea too. Quick alert for Coumadin, name, DOB (since everyone asks). I like idea of directing them to wallet too for further info. if they have time or need. But at least ID has most pertinent immediate info. No guessing what that scar means. Yes, they'll see the scar and warns them about heart issue, but not necessarily why I'm bleeding so much or that I might need to get started on heparin ASAP for bridging purposes, or to check INR ASAP for any coagulation issues, ect...
I have the wallet valve IDs the companies sent me in my wallet now (MRIs can be effected by these so radiology needs to know what's there). Need to copy them actually and keep originals in safer place. I've also had them copied into my official medical records. That was the one thing my cardiologist did agree with, NEED TO CARRY VALVE INFO WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. He thought ID not necessary except maybe for saying about the Coumadin, but I had to carry that valve info.
I plan to put also that I have an interrupted Femoral Vein pathway because it's very unusual but that would only be on a card (for one thing too long and yet not intuitively obvious acronym for), and unlikely a cath would be done on me before I was alert enough to tell them this but something that absolutely should be known before a cath.
My concern is not always having something on for any number of reasons. So, will look into a small tattoo on wrist as well.
The IDs are cheap and easy to work into our lives, so why not? Better safe than sorry.
Granted, I still haven't ordered mine.
Linda
slipkid
Well-known member
The IDs are cheap and easy to work into our lives, so why not? Better safe than sorry.
Granted, I still haven't ordered mine.
Me neither. I keep waffling over what to put on it and which type etc to get. I hate wearing jewelry, plus at my current job we are not allowed to have anything on our wrist, so the idea of getting the type that fits over a watchband is out too.
I like what I'm seeing at sticky-j.com, lots to chose from. Am leaning towards a key fob #1, maybe dogtag/medallion type too & see if I can stand wearing anything around my neck - at work that is also verboten, unless it is inside the shirt though. Not sure I can stand a medallion hanging on my skin inside a shirt though. Sigh. Right now my scar is my medic alert!
Aggie85
Well-known member
Slipkid, I'm not positive, but I think Med Alerts do not count as jewelry and the job can't forbid them. You might want to double check w HR dept. What I found on MedIds.com are watches that have the med alert symbol on the watch face (not a separate piece attached to band) and you engrave info on back battery cover. Lots of styles to chose from. Look under Medical ID Watches on their site.
I'm with you on the whole jewelry issue. Rare female who almost never wears any. I wear a watch, wedding ring set, my Texas A&M school ring, and that's IT, unless going to a formal function or something. LOL I often take my watch off because it irritates me.
That's why, if I can ever get up the nerve, I'm seriously thinking of a tattoo on my wrist. I assume your job site would be even more against a tattoo. Where's Schwenchsville, Pa? Maybe we can find a clean, sterile, reputable tattoo place and meet to talk each other into getting tattoos. LOL :rolleyes2:
Linda
I'm with you on the whole jewelry issue. Rare female who almost never wears any. I wear a watch, wedding ring set, my Texas A&M school ring, and that's IT, unless going to a formal function or something. LOL I often take my watch off because it irritates me.
That's why, if I can ever get up the nerve, I'm seriously thinking of a tattoo on my wrist. I assume your job site would be even more against a tattoo. Where's Schwenchsville, Pa? Maybe we can find a clean, sterile, reputable tattoo place and meet to talk each other into getting tattoos. LOL :rolleyes2:
Linda
slipkid
Well-known member
Sorry Linda, I'm not into tattoos. That is kind of a cool idea though. Good luck with yours
My workplace has very explicit rules about jewelry - none is allowed except for medic alert related things.
However Medic Alerts are not allowed on the wrist or hanging out exposed anywhere, they are only allowed if worn around the neck and tucked inside a shirt. We are a factory with machines all around and the rules are for safety reasons. We are not even allowed to have shirts not tucked in, which is a bit overboard IMO.
There are some crazy non-enforced things though; I see people with keys hanging off their belts every day. I want to get a keyfob for outside work but I might ask about having that attached to my belt like some people I've seen with their keys, but I'm sure that will only result in a crackdown on the people who have the hanging keys (and then they will all hate me).
My workplace has very explicit rules about jewelry - none is allowed except for medic alert related things.
However Medic Alerts are not allowed on the wrist or hanging out exposed anywhere, they are only allowed if worn around the neck and tucked inside a shirt. We are a factory with machines all around and the rules are for safety reasons. We are not even allowed to have shirts not tucked in, which is a bit overboard IMO.
There are some crazy non-enforced things though; I see people with keys hanging off their belts every day. I want to get a keyfob for outside work but I might ask about having that attached to my belt like some people I've seen with their keys, but I'm sure that will only result in a crackdown on the people who have the hanging keys (and then they will all hate me).
Aggie85
Well-known member
I was wondering if it was more of a safety issue than aesthetics. I'm chicken about the tattoo idea too, but trying to talk myself into it because, in this case, it seems sensible. LOL
I'll have to wait till I'm driving again though. My Mom is currently my taxi service and is very against it. So won't drive me. LOL My daughter has been trying to save up for a tattoo of her favorite octopus (she's a marine biologist) for years and has done some research on parlors, so maybe we can do a mom/daughter bonding activity. Just have to leave her Grandma in the dark. Hard to do, since my mom lives with me, but maybe we'll manage. LOL Won't be anytime soon, but I'll let you all know if I finally get the guts.
Linda
I'll have to wait till I'm driving again though. My Mom is currently my taxi service and is very against it. So won't drive me. LOL My daughter has been trying to save up for a tattoo of her favorite octopus (she's a marine biologist) for years and has done some research on parlors, so maybe we can do a mom/daughter bonding activity. Just have to leave her Grandma in the dark. Hard to do, since my mom lives with me, but maybe we'll manage. LOL Won't be anytime soon, but I'll let you all know if I finally get the guts.
Linda
