What is a Medical Alert?
There are many different medical alert products on the market; the intention is to alert a paramedic, accident and emergency staff or the police of your health condition. That’s if you are not conscious or old enough to explain.
The medical alert bracelet is a fairly recent phenomenon. Medical alert jewellery started with stainless steel tags that resembled dog tags, and although they were useful, their popularity never reached beyond people who absolutely wanted or needed to wear them.
Medical Alert ID bracelets were much more appealing and have been available over the past decade or so. However, with people becoming more health-conscious and with more medical conditions being diagnosed, people began to want something other than bracelets and necklaces because they did not enjoy advertising their medical condition to all and sundry. Many wanted to discretely have their medical condition information available on their person. So along came the medical alert card from MediPAL®.
Other medical alert products can vary regarding the amount of visible information they hold. Some rely on call centres to access the detailed information. If this is the case, then this type of medical alert system may only be useful in an emergency. The value is limited and can cause delays in getting at the information when it is most needed.
Make sure any alert card you purchase has added value such as ; can it be used when visiting a hospital clinic; or your dentist; or as a memory aid when visiting your pharmacy or GP and even when travelling on holiday?
There are also Medical alert systems for the home that are perfect for those with limited mobility and chronic medical conditions. A medical alert alarm can give the person confidence to continue living at home by providing the means to prolong their personal independence. A medical alert system fitted in the home offers increased security, or can be worn around the neck . These could save a life in a medical emergency.
The Carer’s Emergency Alert Card is a scheme run by most local authorities. A care worker would carry the alert card so that if she or he was involved in an accident or incapacitated (for whatever cause) the emergency services will look for this card. They’ll call the 24-hour emergency number on the back of the card, and pass on your name and reference number to the service providers. This way the people they care for will be contacted and social services can make other arrangements if required. It also gives the carer peace of mind that the people she cares for will be looked after.
Another useful method of providing information for a medical alert is to use the abbreviation – I.C.E. – In Case of Emergency – which can be stored in your mobile’s phone book to indicate the name and number of someone who should be contacted in an emergency – you simply need to add the letters ICE in front of their name. However, if you have a medical condition you will still need to carry this information separately in the form of a Medical Alert Card to alert a person to that condition quickly and effortlessly.
