What to put on Medical Wrist Band

[Robfromwales]

I have seen some references to the need to possibly have these with some of our conditions. I am mindful that some of our acronyms may not be that common to the general public but would they be to a paramedic or to a 999 call handler do you think? I have a TAA, BAV and Afib . Would you suggest that suffices or would any of these need to be spelt out? Would anti coagulants be needed as well or just something like apixiban mentioned. I appreciate it cant be an essay but anyone know of any guidance. I consider this important as a friend with a dissected TAA was just about to have a dose of adrenaline! Also anyone got any good links for such medicare bands?

[Dessert]

I’m thinking of getting one too!

[Hidden]

My husband has a medic alert band. You can go to their site online and fill in your medical details. They then keep everything on file and engrave your band with the necessary details. There is a membership fee to pay every year but it's worth it to know that your medical details can be accessed if they are needed in an emergency and you aren't able to give them. Hope this helps.

[Hidden]

I used to use medic alert for myself and my daughter but object to paying a yearly fee, partly because (at least at that time) you had no direct control of the info and her meds change on a fairly regular basis. I used to have to phone them to update and it wasn’t always correct when they did it. I now use onelife ID - same principle, but it was free when I signed up, I can control all the info whenever I want through a website, including uploading reports and letters, and in addition to jewellery they produce wallet cards as an option at a reasonable price. Each one can carry the essential info (my daughter’s needs are complex and life limiting), and also direct emergency services to further information about her via the online portal.

I would say some acronyms would be well known - I would reasonably expect a paramedic to know SVT or Afib - but I don’t think we can expect everything to translate, and there can be multiple uses of the same acronym. Case in point, my daughter is autistic, so we refer to her having ASD, and an orthopaedic consultant once took that to mean she has an atrial septal defect 👀

[Hidden]

I use onelife ID as well after asking my Heart nurse what was the most popular and easiest to use/recognise.

[Robfromwales]

Thanks for replies to date

[Hidden]

Why not talk it through with the BHF Helpline nurse?

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Bigheart58]

I’ve had mine since my heart attack two years ago. In addition to my name and an emergency contact number, it states that I have an ICD (CRTD) and the manufacturer’s initials (SJM) as well as the name of my cardiologist. The only medication listed is the anticoagulant (Edoxaban).

[Hidden]

I bought a couple of wrist bands from Amazon. They are made of a grey elastic-like material and simply say "On Apixaban" with the medical alert symbol. In the box of Apixaban tablets there is a small card where you can write various details including the fact you have AF. The two would seem to suffice. I believe you can wear a medical alert around the neck instead of the wrist if you prefer.

[Still_Breathing]

I use my mobile phone (Samsung Android), theres an emergency contact feature aswell as medical info feature which anyone can access even when phone is locked. You can put loads of info on it and its free and apparently known about by medical professionals.

[BlueJRW in reply to Still_Breathing]

Hi Still____Breathing.Can you please share where you found this feature on your phone.

Thanks

[Still_Breathing in reply to BlueJRW]

Search for medical info in settings

Settings

[HumanZoomieMachine in reply to Still_Breathing]

ta for that, just filled out my information on my phone as its a android standard feature

[Smudge4053 in reply to BlueJRW]

If you have an iPhone. Click on the Health app. Then click on your picture in the top right hand corner. Click on Medical ID and fill in the details. This ICE (incase of emergency ) can be accessed by a first responder from your Lock Screen if you are incapacitated.

[Robfromwales in reply to Smudge4053]

Smidge and others who have suggested phone. If any of us were incapacitated and not with a close family member who knew our condition- would a first responder know to look at phone?

[Smudge4053 in reply to Robfromwales]

Hi Rob sorry for the delay in replying. I only have experience with West Midlands Ambulance service where some know about the ICE and how to access it. I was taught about it on my FREC 3 course but I do not believe it is in the syllabus but is reliant on the individual instructor. I work in Security and most of the guys I work with are aware of how to access this.

[Robfromwales in reply to Smudge4053]

Thanks smudge. I guess both maybe the answer I.e. phone and wrist band!

[Sewnknit]

I got an SOS talisman bracelet (they do pendants as well). It is like a locket with a water proof seal and a strip of paper inside. I got some spare strips for when my meds change. I had the outside engraved with PACE MAKER at the local shoe repair shop. From Amazon it was cheaper than the company itself.

[Qualipop]

I have all details on my phone rather than on a band. There's much more room, even for a list of medication and allergies. I'm allergic to morphine which is what's normally given for pain. I already take a high dose of an opiate which could be a problem.

[Sixtychick]

I have a medical wrist band. I got mine on-line. The writing was free. On my band, I had put on it the 3 drugs I take for my PAF, with the anti-coagulant first. At the end , it says “for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.” If you had an accident, at least they know you’re on an anti- coagulant.

[Hanibil]

I have a wrist band with a usb that can be taken out and plugged in to a device, it’s good as regards you can get an awful lot more information on it, I also have a dog tag with the information they made need more quickly should anything happen. They came as a package from EBay and were reasonable in price

[Alison_L]

I just have a pre-printed band with "Alert! ICD Fitted!". I only wear it on long cycle rides, and if anything does happen, then other info is on my phone, but the band alerts people to the fact that I have a problem.

[PelotonHeart]

I got the cheap rubber ones from Amazon as well. I have two stents and am on a blood thinner. As an RN I know that really the only thing they need to know immediately is that I am on blood thinners. For the stents, the cards are always carried on me (as with any other medical device you may have) and can be found after I am stabilized. Blood thinners are the most important emergent knowledge in that case.

[Sunnie2day]

I've had a MedicAlert membership for decades. My current bracelet (stainless steel, I never take it off) has my two most urgent conditions fully written out - 'Angina with normal coronaries' and 'Recurrent Pericarditis', chosen in consultation with my GP and cardiologist as the two most important conditions First Responders need to know about. Fully written out to avoid confusion in an emergency.

My membership includes wallet cards, a huge range of jewellery choices, unlimited updates on the website so my info remains current, and the very real relief of knowing the engravings on my bracelet means my info is immediately available to A&E - all they have to do is telephone the number on the bracelet and then give my member number also on the bracelet.

I have complete confidence in MedicAlert, I've been saved by it (USA car wreck in 1973 - separated from my handbag with my wallet card but my bracelet stayed on so the paramedics knew what they needed to know on-the-spot). While in Guatemala I contracted Dengue Fever (1995) and the bracelet meant the Emergencia medics knew my conditions as soon as the fax came through.

MedicAlert is global and First Responders all over the world are trained to look for the jewellery - in an emergency you might be separated from your mobile and wallet card but the jewellery is robust and stays on even through multiple rolls of a vehicle (mine did and others have said the same). I simply cannot speak highly enough about the modestly priced membership.

If you decide to go with any alert company jewellery range, make sure you consult with your medic regarding what would be the most urgent condition(s) First Responders should be made aware of.

[Robfromwales]

Thanks for these additional replies. Most informative

[shopman]

Just to throw something else in the mix - I use 2 Dog Tags that hang round my neck which contain a lot of info - you can use both sides of each - incuding my NHS Number. Reason for going this route is because more likely for someone to come across something round my neck when working on my chest. Also have expanded details on my phone.

[Silvertail]

I use Medic Alert and although it has a yearly subscription I find it is worth it. They have a doctor available to advise what info, which abbreviation etc to add. You get wallets for your handbag as well. Your member number is also imprinted on the tag, as well as their phone no.. Paramedics know to look for them. It’s ok to put info on your phone but what if you lose it or, as I do, forget to take your phone with you.