MedicAlert Awareness Month: What Information Goes on a Medical ID Bracelet?

Medical ID bracelets or necklaces serve many purposes with medical information inscribed on them and their main objective is to allow healthcare professionals and first responders to get an in-depth view of any conditions you or your loved one may have or other concerns that may be relevant to your care in the event you become unconscious or otherwise incapacitated Medical ID bracelets come in different sizes, so depending on the amount of information you need to include, you may want to opt for larger ones.

Today we will discuss what kind of information should be included on a Medical ID bracelet.  To determine exactly what information goes on a medical alert bracelet that you will be wearing, its’ best to consult with your healthcare provider.  With that said, here is some important information you will likely want to have:

• Your name
  • One of the most important pieces of information for first responders is to have your name. If EMTs have your name, the hospital will potentially be able to pull your medical history, which might impact the course of treatment.
• Your birthday
  • The next key piece of information is your birthday. The reason for this is that, if someone else has the same name as you, it can potentially confuse the hospital staff and could impact your treatment.
• Your medical conditions
  • The next critical piece of info is to list any medical conditions that could impact the treatment provided by EMTs and doctors. This could include bleeding disorders, epilepsy, diabetes, and a slew of other conditions.
• Your Allergies
  • When it comes to what information goes on a medical alert bracelet, allergies can just be as important as medical conditions. Medications are the biggest cause of fatal allergic reactions, therefore listing any allergies on your medical alert bracelet is vital to ensure that you receive the proper care.
• Your medications
  • It’s also important to engrave any prescribed medications you take regularly on your medical ID. It’s important to include medications that you take daily and long-term.
• Supplies you may have
  • If you carry any medical supplies with you regularly that might help in an emergency, a list of that information on your Medical ID bracelet. An example would be if you carry an EpiPen with you in case you experience an anaphylactic shock due to an allergic reaction. This can save valuable time if a bystander happens to read your bracelet, and it can let medical personnel know exactly what medication to use.
• Emergency contact information
  • Finally, you may want to add an emergency contact to your medical ID bracelet. This information is especially important for children and individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairment, but it can help anyone in an emergency. If possible, you should choose a contact who could make medical conditions on your behalf.

Medical ID bracelets are a big help in situations when there are good Samaritans around to assist you or your loved one. A medical ID bracelet is a small purchase with a potentially huge impact on your health. If you’re working on organizing your health information, consider speaking to one of our care managers or caregiver for better guidance and extra assistance.