To get us going -- Do you wear medical id?

posted 37 months ago by redemption2005

Hey guys!  I noticed nobody had started anything in the ask a question section, so I decided to step up to the plate.

I'm interested to see how many of us on the boards wear some sort of medical identification jewelry.

I went out awhile back and got a dog tag made for $15.  I wear it pretty much every day (hey, I'm not perfect).  Even though I just have mild asthma, I've done a lot of reading, and a lot of sources say it's important to wear medical ID for any sort of hidden medical condition.

Something I read said that even if you have mild asthma and were in some sort of emergency situation, even if not asthma related, and they have to do surgery and put a breathing tube in, it could cause an asthma flare.

I feel safer wearing my dog tags because of that information--mine are nothing fancy, just my name, that I have asthma, that if something does happen I have wishes to be an organ donor, and then there are some emergency contact numbers on the other side. (Home, mom's work, dad's cell, and my aunt's cell.  I just realized that my aunt no longer has that cell phone number!  I guess I need to get a new tag made!)

So, what's your take?  ID or no ID?  If you wear ID or are contemplating getting it, what do you have engraved on it?  Do you wear a bracelet or a necklace? (I think I'm going to get a bracelet made sometime, too)

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Answers

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  • Rona

    No.  I don't wear one.  I hand a placard on my car and find that to be sufficient humiliation.  It is annoying enough to get the dirty looks when I get out my inhaler to quiet an attack.  People are so judgemental, it seems.  If I knew I would pass out then yes, i would wear a medical ID.  I've never lost consciousness and do have ID in my wallet.

    36 months ago

  • Kerri

    Thanks for replying, Rona.

    36 months ago

  • Sue D

    Just found this question!  No I don't wear a medical ID, but I think it's probably a good idea.  I do have a list of the medications I take in my wallet.  I find that really useful.  My ex-mother in law had a stroke, and we weren't able to ask her what medicines she took, and I didn't know!

    36 months ago

  • Kerri

    I also have my medical information and medications on a list in my wallet, along with my dog tag--I think a wallet card should be bare minimum for anyone on any sort of long-term medications--my problem is I don't always have my wallet with me, so the dog tag is essential--if they know i have asthma, at least they'll know that I may be on medications.

    I think it's important that someone else knows what medications you're on, too.  I'm close to positive that my mom basically knows I have two inhalers, a blue one and a red one.  She likely has no idea what they're even called!  I think I'll have to go over this with her!

    36 months ago

  • jessica

    i do have one,idont like wearing jewly so i bout a necklece with a big enought look and made it into a key chain and i always have my keys on me.

    36 months ago

  • Joey

    I'm allergic to metal so I wear two red bands that list all my drug allergies (I need two because I have ALOT of allergies) and that I'm a type one brittle asthmatic, have M.E and Fibromyalgia and having just come out of hospital with a chest infection they work because they tried to give me salbutamol but I showed them my tags and they didn't, they also tried to give me a atrovent but I'm allergic to that too!

    35 months ago

  • karan

    i don't wear a medical id but i'm looking into getting one,i think it's vital to have one of these, you never know when something might happen and you can't speak for yourself. i have moderate hard to control asthma, allergies and a rare genetic disorder. i need to have one!!!

    35 months ago

  • Kerri

    my math teacher asked about my dog tag today.  and i caught my english teacher eyeing it the other day, as well.  i've been wearing this thing since september and have had these teachers since the beginning of february, and it's like neither of them noticed earlier!  haha!

    35 months ago

  • Sherry

    I wear a bracelet engraved with "ASTHMA!" and my drug allergies.  my husband is an EMT, so he makes me wear it, lol.  I, too, have drug list in wallet. 
    RONA, I'm confused- why would you get dirty looks when using your inhalor?  I've never in 28 years experienced that, and I take it MANY, many times a day in public.  If anything, I've noticed strangers give me a quick smile when I catch their eye while using it.

    34 months ago

  • Susannah

    I wear a Medic Alert bracelet.

    I can safely say it has saved my life.

    Paramedics in the UK are trained to look for Medical ID. I'd passed out with an attack and it was spotted immediately-thank heavens.

    Plus as we travel to the US alot I need my records accessed immediately-we have checked the system and it is all in place. I even lost my bracelet once and it was mailed back to me. now I have 2!

    Get one, especially if you have anaphylaxis type allergies- which I do.

    32 months ago

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