Medical ID With Alarm/Lights

[Brent]

OK, first I want to say that I used to be an EMT, and I worked in the ER for several years. I understand that competent people can easily miss ID bracelets. However, I am REALLY frustrated that medics almost NEVER see mine. It says clearly, "Do not transport if stable", and is designed to prevent a trip to the ER every time I have a seizure in public (which happens every few months).

Also, my service dog has detailed instructions and info in a pocket in her vest. So, you'd think there would be no excuse. Yet, generally speaking, if no one points these things out, they are almost always missed. I woke up the other day to a medic trying to start an IV when I was just having a routine seizure. Had he read my info, he would have known exactly what was going on.

Again, I'm not criticizing the medics. I know first-hand how easy it is to miss this.

So, I'm thinking that what I want is an ID bracelet on which I can activate a flashing light when I am about to have a seizure. I've looked around and found nothing of the sort. The only things I have found are gaudy lighted bracelets - nothing I could wear to business meetings. I'm about ready to design my own, but I would rather just buy one.

Anyone know about such a thing?

[Nakamova]

I haven't seen something like that around.... Sounds like a business opportunity!

In the meantime, could you send a letter to your local EMTs reminding them that it's a good policy to look for ID bracelets and/or other medical info before initiating treatment? It doesn't hurt to mention that there could be liability issues if they don't...

[Brent]

They already know and are reminded just about every time they go through refresher training. I used to assist teaching EMT classes where I harped on this sort of thing all the time. Yet, I would say that when I was responding to calls, that I missed this more frequently than I caught it.

Frankly, it's just not a good system (the bracelet). If would be one thing if a few negligent people missed them from time to time, but the reality is that they are usually not noticed until relatively late in treatment - despite the fact that everyone receives solid training that reminds them to check.

So, I would suggest that the medical ID bracelet is an idea that needs reevaluation. Worse yet, are medical ID watches that you have to look at carefully to even realize that it isn't just a plain watch.

The problem is, as I see it, that we don't want to constantly advertise our disability to anyone and everyone. However, when unable to communicate to medical personnel, that discrete jewelry now needs to be very obvious because it has to compete with a great many distractions.

I'm thinking that I may very well just go ahead and create one and possibly make a side business out of it. Hopefully someone else will beat me to it.

[Rae1889]

This is what scares me. I have an anaphylaxis reaction to morphine. And typiclly the first med they give someone for pain is morphine. I'm worried they won't see the bracelet and inject me and then further complicate my treatment.

[Brent]

Usually ... but of course not always ... we're better at checking before giving a med. Giving a med to a patient with and ID bracelet that clearly communicates an allergy is a potentially career ending move. Not to say that it doesn't happen, but much less commonly. There are a couple of reasons for this, but mostly it is because it is usually not one of the first things that happens in treatment. So, by the time a med is administered, usually the initial rush and distractions of assessing a new patient are over and several people have been involved by that time.

Of course, I'm only speaking from my own experience in this region. These may not be truisms everywhere.

[Meetz1064]

that this would be the perfect opportunity for you to do what you're thinking of--creating that small side business, and benefit from it in several ways.

I can understand the frustration that you feel from the lack of communication and inattention that is brought on by the ID tags. It has seriously amazed me over the years as well--and I no longer wear them as a result. I should--considering my E, and a few other things--but I don't. It's always been too much of a hassle.

Where exactly do you wear your ID tag at? Do you wear it in a very obvious place? Or could it be put in an even more obvious place? I'll grant you, the fact that you have information placed on your service dog as well leaves little room for excuses on the part of the EMTs and medical personnel when treating you, but trying to limit the problem even more is what I'm trying to think of ways of doing for you.....

Take care,

Meetz

[Cint]

Frankly, it's just not a good system (the bracelet). If would be one thing if a few negligent people missed them from time to time, but the reality is that they are usually not noticed until relatively late in treatment - despite the fact that everyone receives solid training that reminds them to check.

So, I would suggest that the medical ID bracelet is an idea that needs reevaluation. Worse yet, are medical ID watches that you have to look at carefully to even realize that it isn't just a plain watch.

The problem is, as I see it, that we don't want to constantly advertise our disability to anyone and everyone. However, when unable to communicate to medical personnel, that discrete jewelry now needs to be very obvious because it has to compete with a great many distractions.

Brent,

I've had some ugly tonic clonic seizures in public before. I also were a Medic Alert bracelet. The one I wear is from the MedicAlert Foundation. http://www.medicalert.org/
They offer bracelets, necklaces, sports bands, dog tags, shoe tags and other accessories, along with the watches. IMO, some of the newer sports bands would definitely make an impression if the EMTs were really trained to look for something. The times I had bad seizures in public, 911 has been called several times, but they didn't start an IV. Only one time was I taken to the hospital, and that was because I was going status. I've informed my local fire dept. and police of my condition, in case I have another bad seizure in public. Fortunately, for me, that hasn't happened in quite a while.

[Brent]

Hi Meetz,

I understand not bothering to wear an ID anymore. I do think there is an opportunity here because there are a lot of us who have a frequent and/or serious need for this sort of communication who have had several experiences with typical bracelets being overlooked. Also, just about every health care professional I know has missed this more than once and would love something that is harder to miss.

My bracelet (which is pretty standard and obvious - see picture) is really only obscured if I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt. I've learned to pull my sleeve up in preparation for a seizure, and this is also the same wrist I strap my service dog's leash to. So, medics actually have to go to that wrist to remove the leash so they can work. In her vest (the dog's), there is a detailed sheet explaining everything they need to know.

[Brent]

Hmm ... apparently image posting is disabled. Here's a link to an image of the bracelet I wear. On the other side I have important details, but without advertising them to the general public. http://postimage.org/image/6mq5ih5mz/