Does anyone use medical alert jewellery?

[alpenguin]

Does anyone have a medical alert bracelet?

I wondered if anyone wore medical alert jewellery and where you got them. Also if you’ve got a lot of complex health issues how did you fit them all on?

I was warned by an A&E consultant friend against a QR code type especially if travelling abroad and not to get a subscription type either.

so I’m just looking for others experiences and advice. Thanks!

I think I used the ID Band Company for my silicone bracelet - they engraved the information and it lasted for years. I didn't put anything other than Medication Dependent and my CHI/NHS number, as my medication changed sometimes. I felt it would give them enough of a prompt to check my records. I wasn't travelling outside the UK, though.

Why did they warn against subscription/qr code type?

I have a subscription one but it still has the key Information on it. The subscription just gives additional info

I'm also interested in why not the qr. I don't use it for medical information but for contact info as I do a lot of solo travel.

Yes I’ve always got them off Amazon. There is one where you can add charm type things for more info (they go around the strap they aren’t hanging down). I just have one condition so I use either a metal band like a watch strap or currently a black silicone strap with a metal plate with my condition on.

I'm subscribed to MedicAlert and have a couple of wearables (that I rarely wear tbh) and a keyring tag to attach to my MedPac (contains Epipens) which also contains one of their credit card style alerts which has room for lots of medical information, as well as name, NoK, doctor etc. I tend to mostly wear my MedPac silicon band which says "emergency meds in MedPac".

I like the look of the Notch bands but not sure I want all my relevant info so visible!

I'm also interested in why not the qr

It takes 2 seconds to read 'diabetic, epileptic, anaphylaxis to peanuts etc' rather than someone having to get their phone out, try to find a QR app thing, scan the code, go to the website and read the info there!

I'm a health professional and have helped people out of work in various situations and having to scan a QR code would surely add valuable time. I'd be using my phone to call 999, not trying to scan something at the same time! Also, many people such as my mum and in laws wouldn't know how to scan a QR code.

I have MedicAlert jewellery, have done for 15 years, wear it every day.
I have a rare illness that means that I’m certain circumstances I could - bluntly - suddenly find myself in a life threatening situation & if appropriate medication is not administered within a few minutes, I will enter a coma and die. It’s not very nice to live with (!) & as a result decided to get the best that was available.
There is a 24/7 phone number, unique MedicAlert number and a summary of condition & action required.

I've worn a bracelet for 30 years. Initially I had a MedicAlert one, but it was in a different country where there wasn't an annual fee - when I discovered the cost in the UK I switched to the ones you get cheaper online.

I just have the 2 medical conditions on it that would be critical to know if I was unconscious.

I got mine from Etsy!

I wish my son would wear one (T1D). I am worried if he is out and has a bad hypo, people may think he's intoxicated or high and give him a wide berth.

My dd wore one with my mobile phone number on it through childhood and university at her request, she had seizures, but they ceased

DP has one. His has his name, my phone number and his meds on (I get new ones made as they add in more meds).

He's usually unconscious when he's found and then very confused for a while, so it's been very useful. I've been phoned by passers by while they were waiting on an ambulance and I was able to get there and fill in his extensive health history, and it's been useful for paramedics in getting hold of me for more info too. I'm interested in finding one with a tracker if anyone's heard of one!

He goes wandering after seizures and it's been hard to find him a couple of times and it takes a few hours for him to know who he is again... He'd not take his phone when he leaves the house, but he's always got the bracelet on, so it'd be a useful solution.

I have the key info on the bracelet - "Myasthenia Gravis - anaesthetic risk".

The phone number /reference number( in my case) would then give them a bunch more info - medication dosages, hospital details etc.

I don't know how QR codes work but I can't see how there is any detriment in having the subscription service for additional info?

Thanks everyone

To answer the QR code issue it gives a false sense of security to the wearer and it relies on someone seeing and understanding what it is and also having a spare net connected phone to read the code/link while also phoning an ambulance (and knowing the relevant data can be the difference between waiting 10 mins and 10hrs for an ambulance). The subscription thing just puts me off.

My concern is that I need to list three must know at the scene conditions which all have ridiculously long names, two of which don’t work as abbreviations and also need to list several severe allergens that are relevant to medical environments then name /dob/contact etc I’ll look like Mr T

I agree. My late husband had a MedicAlert bracelet. The engraving had details of his medications, and their computer database had all his medical details. It had a monthly subscription.

I use the silicone ones from the ID Band Company. I like the fact that my personal info is on the inside of the bracelet, not the outside. You can fit quite a lot on, I have 3 lines of writing with my name, DOB, medical condition & emergency meds, NHS no, blood group, husbands name & mobile no.

I have one but I don't like to just advertise how to kill me plus people are very nosy. Mine is a bracelet that can be engraved both inside and outside so my private medical information is on the inside.

However, my medical condition wouldn't be something a member of the public would need to know, only medical staff. Mine is from Etsy.

For you OP I would get a bracelet that has discs with your medical condition on each one or one potentially like this which holds a lot of text

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4536953398

QR code depends on someone being happy to use their own phone to scan the code…and trusting that it’s not going to be anything dodgy. No chance I’d be doing that. Also has the potential to cause us more problems than it fixes when someone sees us using our phones to ‘take a photo’ right next to a patient. Not worth the hassle I’m afraid.

Do you have your In Case of Emergency information set in your phone? I think you could do two things:

• Have a bracelet that says 'Check ICE on phone'
• Have a bracelet that says 'Medical Information in bag'
• Set a message on your lock screen that says 'If collapsed dial 999 and say "<medical condition>"

Then make sure that you're always carrying your phone or a medical summary.

AirTag in his shoe, or on his keys if he’d take them?

That's why I like the MedicAlert card, the info is instantly available.

www.medicalert.org.uk/products/Wallet_Card

ID band company do a deluxe silicone one you can personalise. I advise in a health group and this is what we always recommended as it’s so easily identifiable as a medical alert and anyone can read it easily. Do not go for anything with a QR code or something you need to scan. Waste of time in a critical emergency and not everyone will know what it is or how to scan them - you’re not just wearing them for paramedics but for anyone who finds you in need of help to relay the information via 999.

I don't know how the QR code ones work but mine has the key info engraved on it and a number you can dial for more info (ie info that would be useful on the way to hospital/at hospital) if (as is likely with my condition) I was unable to talk

@CassandraWebb if you don’t mind me asking, are you steroid dependent?

I am, I have Addisons disease.