Save Your Life: Wear a Medical Alert ID Bracelet (Medic Alert Symbol) and Carry an Information Card (Template Provided)

Do you have asthma? Diabetes? Epilepsy? Are you on prescription medication? Help others help you and perhaps avert or minimize a disastrous situation by wearing a medical alert ID at all times—and then keeping your wallet medical alert card up-to-date at all times, especially with medication changes.

Medical alert ID bracelets and necklaces typically consist of a stainless steel tag displaying the blue Star-of-Life symbol, which is internationally recognized by emergency response personnel. To be precise, they have been trained to look for the blue Star-of-Life ID plate on each person’s wrist, though many people wear it on a necklace, and many people wear it in red or some other color rather than the specified blue. On the back side of this tag you should, at a minimum, engrave, in heavy letters and as large as possible, your full first and last name and “See wallet card”, though most emergency responders will automatically look for that for anyone wearing a medical alert ID, whether engraved or not.

The emblem displayed on the medical alert bracelet is a representation of what first-responders should do when they come across someone wearing this symbol.

Many people (I was one of them) believe that the Star-of-Life is supposed to be red. However, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and internationally recognize that the official color for the emblem is blue.

Sources:

http://www.ems.gov/other/star.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life

"The Star of Life is a blue, six-pointed star, outlined with a white border which features the rod of Asclepius in the center, originally designed and governed by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (under the United States Department of Transportation, DOT). Traditionally in the United States the logo was used as a stamp of authentication or certification for ambulances, paramedics or other EMS personnel. Internationally, it represents emergency medical services (EMS) units and personnel." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life as retrieved 2/12/2012 at 2:52 p.m.

You don't need to spend a fortune on a fancy medic alert ID bracelet--in fact, the more complex the bracelet is the less likely EMTs or other first-responders will recognize it. This is not supposed to be jewelry to look pretty in, it's purpose is to save your life some day if necessary. Buying and wearing a bracelet that might save your life and keeping your medic alert card up-to-date are the least you can do to help yourself stay safe. Your family members and other loved ones will thank you for it, too.

Some companies are selling tiny USB drive medical alert IDs designed to carry all of your medical information. This is a great idea, but only in ADDITION to a wallet card, which can be accessed at any time or place by anyone, unlike a USB drive that requires the use of a computer. You should make your most critical information available on your medical alert card, and you may want to carry more than one card (luggage tag, brief case, desk drawer at work, and so on) to make it easier for emergency responders to find quickly.

I can email you a Microsoft Word Template for FREE--just email me and be patient for a few days (I don't check that account daily).

Here are my criteria for developing my template--hopefully this is helpful to you.

• Make sure it’s all on one side of one page, so that medical personnel can photocopy it easily and so that they won’t miss any information on the back side of the card.
• Make sure it can be cut and folded down to the size of a business card or slightly smaller.
• If your wallet has a front display “window” for your driver’s license, use that display window instead for your medical alert card.
• Use easy-to-read fonts, such as Arial or Tahoma, NOT Times, comic sans, or Century Schoolbook.
• No photos or graphics or cute things—this card is what your life might literally depend upon. It’s no joke and you don’t want any emergency responders to think it is, either.
• If you use a service dog, be sure to mention that on your card also: “Please locate my service dog [name], a [color of dog] [breed of dog]. Be sure to keep him/her with me at all times, per the ADA.”

Below is a template you may use to customize your own medical alert card (just delete or replace everything that is highlighted with your own information). I would be happy to email you the Microsoft Word template for this. If you would like a copy, please send me an email and give me a few days to respond.

~ May you never need to use this card. ~