Medical alert bracelet

[kajas]

Anyone wearing a medical alert bracelet?
If so what have you got written on it?
I have just completed a first aid training course and an unconscious casualty needs somebody to tilt their head back to open their airway.
Now with an apnea sufferer this is somewhat important !!!!
Cheers all.

[Janknitz]

I used to wear a Medic Alert bracelet and hated the darn thing because everyone thinks they can grab your wrist, flip it over and see why you wear it. They all need to MYOB! I was even injured a few times when a really inappropriate grab to flip over the medallion by a nosy person caused the chain to cut and bruise my skin. You can't pull away in a situation like that, and I'm not one to haul off and hit someone (though I would have LIKED to!).

If you have such severe apnea that you are in danger of dying the minute you fall asleep, then a Medic Alert bracelet is important. But ANY first responder should check for an airway if you are unconscious, and if you are transported to an ER or trauma center you will be on monitors that will show O2 desats and apnic episodes.

Medic Alert is great if you have a severe allergy, seizures or a cardiac or other condition that warrants immediate special care from first responders and the ER, but I don't think OSA is that immediate that a Medic Alert bracelet is required.

(And they have special clasps so they don't fall off easily--imagine having to take them off to go through %$#@ metal detectors all the time!).

[chunkyfrog]

I like the idea of a wallet card or a silicone USB bracelet.
I think it would be cool if medical info was linked (and encoded) to a QR code you could wear on jewelry or "ink". (tattoo)
If a snoop wants to scan your code, all they would get would be a message that the info is only readable by authorized personnel.

[Hawthorne]

I wear a medic alert bracelet for another reason. Several years ago I just had sleep apnea added to it. As far as sleep apnea goes, It says Sleep apnea - cpap".

[JohnBFisher]

I have a MedicAlert bracelet. It does not set off the metal detectors. But my insulin pump does.

Janknitz, I would haul off an slug someone that grabbed my wrist that way. I've never had to do so. Part of it is being an old, fat guy. People tend to leave me alone. But such rudeness would NOT be tolerated.

Unfortunately, with all that I have going on with my health, I must assume that I may not be conscious and there is information that first responders MUST know. So, I really do need to wear one.

My bracelet only says Sleep Apnea. Fortunately most first responders will pay attention to their ABCs of emergency medicine:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_(medicine)

That ABC is a mnemonic for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. So, they will ascertain the airway is clear and that I am breathing. However, since I would not be conscious, it's likely my breathing would not be regular. They would intervene if necessary.

Hope that makes sense.

[Hawthorne]

I've never had anyone grab my wrist like that nor heard of anyone having had it done to them = except you Janknitz.

[joesetx]

I have one that says don't worry...I'm just drunk.

A bracelet for sleep apnea? Don't think so. if you aren't breathing someone will notice.

[chunkyfrog]

Maybe, if they are paying attention.
A quiet patient is no bother --unless he's dead.

[deerslayer]

keep the medic alert medallion on key chain.... nowadays as long as you carry an ID medics can access your data quickly. Just as important if not more so is to have on file your medical power of attorney , etc. w/ your Primary.
17 days in hospital last year, i am blessed to be alive

[JohnBFisher]

... A bracelet for sleep apnea? Don't think so. if you aren't breathing someone will notice. ...

Not necessarily. Someone with central apnea won't be breathing in a regular manner .. it becomes pretty important for them to have an advocate on this the moment they hit the ER ..

I'll use myself as an example. When I go into a long apnea it can be pretty frightening for others around me. I stop breathing for so long that my old Respironiocs Series M BiPAP Auto would turn itself off assuming that I was no longer wearing the mask. A minute at a time can leave you with horrible headaches and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Not snoring. Not gasping. Just not trying. In an emergency situation a medic might not notice that as an issue. However, if I have the note about "sleep apnea" they may pay more attention to my breathing. I know in the ER they will do so.

[kwikwater]

I wear a necklace mostly because I'm single and travel alone a lot. It's from RoadID.com. You choose what graphic is on one side and on the other is emergency contact info. A first responder has to call an 800# or a website to access that info. I can post all nature of information on the website. You have total control of what is listed. I list emergency contacts, my meds, my one med allergy, my CPAP. If you wanted, you could say what brand food your dog likes to feed him while you're in the hospital. I started using it when a friend died while rafting the Grand Canyon and no one in his group knew who to call. The sad part is too many friends that are in health care wonder if anybody looks these kind of things!!

[StuUnderPressure]

My local ambulance service has 2 apps

The 1st app (the earlier one) was only able to list your Emergency Contacts.

I always had my 2 Emergency Contacts so that they always came up as the 1st 2 Contacts. Even without the app, the Medics would always check someone's cell phone for Emergency Contacts.

With their app on your cell phone, the Medics could access that app even if your cell phone was locked & they could then get to your list of contacts.

They now have an app that allows you to input not only your Emergency Contacts, but EVERY piece of Medical information known to man - for more than 1 person. That app can also be accessed by the Medics even if your cell phone is locked.

Of course, that will only work in the area they serve.
My hope is that Medics in other areas will also look at the cell phone for Emergency Contacts & see this app.

Check to see if the ambulance service in your area does such a thing.

[AGrannyTooSoon]

Might help in some cases. What happened to me 2 years ago was terrible. Went to ER in severe pain. Told them upon admit I had severe sleep apnea as well as my medical history. After 3 days of testing had 5 hr. Surgery for infected gall bladder and liver abscess. Was doing fine back in my hospital room, talking, making phone calls. Got tired so husband went home. Dozed off lying on back, and husband got call from hospital that I was now in ICU, intubated and in induced coma because oxygen level started to drop. Was out for a week while " lungs recovered from long surgery". Never occurred to him it was my sleep apnea that caused the drop because he trusted in the care. I guess no one checked the admit info. Glad I had good insurance! Bracelet may have helped but they usually remove jewelry. Make sure people know especially before surgery!!!!!! Tell everyone you see and take your equipment with you.

[Denial Dave]

I've got a pendant. It lists all of my drug & food allergies AND sleep apnea. If I get any more issues, I may need a 2nd pendant. Lol

[-tim]

I have a young friend who has such a thing. They didn't even look at it in ER when she was taken in for playing in the road at 5 am in her pajamas and took her away. The police called me since I was in the last dialed numbers on her phone.