Medic bracelet

[daveofpensby]

Hi everyone a little question about medic bracelets what’s the consensus of option about them. I’m on blood thinners and have an ICD fitted not sure if I should be wearing some sort of bracelet or not ?

[Hidden]

I would absolutely, definitely advocate having something, but jewellery is far from the only option these days. Some smartphones have a medical ID type setting that can be accessed from the lock screen (so it can be accessed without anyone needing your password/code/face/finger), so if your phone facilitates that, keeping that up to date is a really good idea in any event.

There are companies that offer plastic ID cards you can carry in your wallet that list the immediately important information along with a link to an (in some cases completely free) online portal where not only can you fill in all your relevant medical info and history, you can also upload copies of test results and letters that could be helpful in the event of an emergency to someone who doesn’t know you. The cards have a website address on with details of how to access your info and the site can be accessed on any device with internet access, you can also update tour info as often as necessary. I currently use those for my daughter through a company that also produce jewellery with the same idea: you have some basic info inscribed, like your name and that you’re an ICD user, but the jewellery then directs emergency services or hospital staff to the webpage where they can access everything they need to know, including next of kin details. The cards were £10 for 3 identical ones, with a variety of designs and options, but they’re really sturdy and have held up well.

I don’t know if it ever properly took off or if they’re still available, but there was also a usb flash drive style scheme running a couple of years back, initially geared more towards motorcyclists, but that also looked like quite a good idea, with the ability to view the information in a number of European languages if you were someone that liked to travel.

And there is of course the companies like medicalert who offer jewellery and an annual subscription service whereby the hospital phone them and are given any info they hold about you. I originally had my daughter on that for a few years but found it really inconvenient for trying to update the information when required (her care can vary quite a bit), and relatively expensive at £79 a year as it was then on top of jewellery cost.

[daveofpensby in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Charlie G there’s a lot of good info there for me to consider

[Sunnie2day]

Speak with your medic and see what if anything he/she recommends. Mine was very enthusiastic about the idea.

After some research, I chose to go with a MedicAlert membership and jewellery. I'd had a membership and bracelet for years but had stopped using the service in the late 1990s.

I re-signed up last May (2019), entered all my new information, and chose my jewellery - a stainless steel bracelet (I have two, one on my wrist 24/7/365 and the other is a spare). Paid using my debit card and two weeks later received my jewellery and a wallet card.

Mine is a feminine version but there are very handsome ones for the gentlemen and some unisex sport versions as well. The cost goes from quite reasonable to eye-watering (sterling silver and gold offerings). My two main medical conditions are also engraved on my bracelet - I asked my doctor to recommend which conditions to list.

I could have chosen a mobile phone app - it is the 21st century, after all! I could have carried a wallet card. But in 1973 I was in a rather bad car wreck and my handbag went flying - it wasn't found for weeks. If it hadn't been for my MedicAlert bracelet the emergency personnel and the hospital I was blue-lighted to wouldn't have known about my Rheumatic Heart Syndrome. The doctor told me later if not for the bracelet he would have used an anaesthetic that might have caused me further complications (ok, he said it might have killed me during surgery) but thanks to the bracelet that didn't come off in the wreck and wasn't lost the way my handbag was, he used the right meds and I went home from hospital a month later - alive.

My £37 annual membership (jewellery is additional cost) means my entire medical record is immediately available to First Responders and any emergency medic across the globe - all they have to do is telephone the phone line engraved on the back of my bracelet and give them my membership number - within minutes they'll have all my information no matter where I am. No more worries one NHS trust to another haven't interfaced (it has been known to happen), and I can travel to any country in the world in perfect confidence should an emergency arise. And best of all - no worries if my handbag/mobile/wallet card and I are separated in an emergency situation.

[daveofpensby in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks for that info when you mentioned about the accident it makes perfect sense

[andy110519]

Hi Dave,

I'm on Wafarin and was given a card to carry at all times because of this. It's made of card so wouldn't last a month if I always had it on me when out and how long for someone to search all my pockets/ wallet etc if something does happen to me?

I have a leather strap (not keen on the metal bracelets) with a small engraved metal plate on it with the relevant details. I put it on in the morning and that's me sorted for the day whether I'm out running, swimming or whatever. It's easy for anyone to see and incudes the medic symbol so it's obvious what it's about at a glance, easy for the medics. I don't like carrying my phone when out running so a phone app wouldn't suit.

My current one is from RoadID.com, there is a £ site as well as $ and there are other sites too. I didn't bother with the online bit.

Andy

[daveofpensby in reply to andy110519]

Thanks Andy I’m getting a lot of good info never really thought about carrying anything before to alert people but it really does make sense

[Hidden]

My sister persuaded me to sign up for a Medic Alert Bracelet and I wear it all the time as it has the details of the ICD & medicines I am allergic to on it. It is a metal one and had the red symbol of the group on it.

Unfortunately I have found it depends on the paramedic if they know what it is. I have been to A&E three times since wearing it last year and only one noticed it and he thought it was a piece of unusual jewellery. I did explain it to him and he said he had never heard of it before.

I still wear it though, just in case.

[daveofpensby in reply to Hidden]

Hi thought all the medics where trained to recognise the symbol. I would think sooner or later some one would recognise it or is that just wishful thinking

[Hidden in reply to daveofpensby]

This one who saw it when we were sat out A&E waiting to to be booked in and he was making conversation.

[Sunnie2day in reply to daveofpensby]

My late husband (I've since remarried) was a surgeon - he and all his team were fully aware of the MedicAlert jewellery as were all of his colleagues and their teams. Every First Responder I've known (all over the world, in my younger days I travelled with my husband where ever he was on secondment to) knows what the MedicAlert jewellery is and they are trained to look for bracelets and necklaces during assessment.

Meenzer must have stumbled across a young trainee who slept through that part of his training!

[GreenMonday]

Hello,

My husband is a new owner of a pacemaker and carries a card in his wallet (containing his pm details) and when out wears a medic bracelet. I think he just feels a little reassured in case of emergencies.

Take care.

Kerry

[Fluffybee]

Hi daveofpensby

I have a medic alert bracelet for another condition and all the meds with that, so after my MRI I’m going to add the heart condition I have as well, all meds are on your record at the main centre so that can be accessed 24/7 anywhere in the world.

So with all those meds plus heart ones I take 21 meds per day plus GTN spray so feel a medical professional would need to know what I’m on as I cannot remember what I’m on half the time.

Let us know what you decide 😄

[daveofpensby in reply to Fluffybee]

Will do

[Mikedabike]

It’s a personal choice and I think it can depend on your lifestyle to a degree. I have an engraved strap (onelife id) that I wear when out hillwalking or cycling, or more active pastimes. At all other times I make do with my phone that allows me to have all my details on the lock screen. In this way anyone can access all the information.

[daveofpensby in reply to Mikedabike]

Hi Mike yes I guess that makes sense as you say it depends which suits best

Thanks

[080311]

Hi I have medical alert bracelet, husband as had a stroke so was concerned that if something happened even in the house he wouldn’t be able to remember what my health issues were. This way he is more confident that if I am out or even in there is the information they need without any hassle.

[daveofpensby in reply to 080311]

Looking at all the replies I’ve had it makes sense to have one

[080311 in reply to daveofpensby]

Think it makes lots of sense. Piece of mind for everyone.

[Calliope153]

I have an engraved identity bracelet - which I have worn for 2 years and my name (on the inside) is still legible but "Cardiac Alert" on the outside is pretty indecipherable. After my valve and graft in April I ordered two silicon bracelets from Amazon - total cost £6 - one just says cardiac alert in white letters on a purple band and the other has my name and Cardiac Alert on it - self coloured letters on that one. It's less obvious than the purple and white one.

In the post out of the blue, a couple of weeks ago, I received a card card sized plastic card from California from Edwards the valve maker- it has name of surgeon, position of valve, number of valve , hospital and date of operation on it. I carry that in my purse.

I wear the silver bracelet all the time but add one or two silicon bracelets depending on what I am doing and where i am going. Overkill but helps with feeling confident when I am out and about on my own.

[Alison_L]

Hi Dave. I have a couple of these wristbands that I wear if I think I might be vulnerable (ie out cycling alone), but otherwise I just keep the bit of paper they gave me (with all the ICD info on) with my driving licence, which I always have with me anyway.

amazon.co.uk/Wristband-Sili...

[daveofpensby in reply to Alison_L]

Hi Alison

Yes I’ve got a card that’s in my wallet with all the info on, it was to cover the scenario when I’m out on my own if I should collapse and can’t tell anyone where the card is. Mind you I was lying in the road having a heart attack and no one come near not even to give me some money because they thought I might be homeless Ha Ha