Did you ever think medical needs and fashion had anything in common? Ultimately, the answer depends on the person asked. Medical professionals may not be concerned with the visual appeal of mobility aids, alert devices, and the like. However, the women, men, and children who use these apparatus for health support desire devices that look suitable for their lifestyles or complement their characters. Medical ID accessories are a great example of incorporating fashion while offering life-saving medical information.
August is MedicAlert Awareness Month. One of the most important devices that provide medical information to those who need it is the medical alert ID. For almost 70 years, The Medical Alert Foundation has provided medical alert IDs to its members and stored vital information about their medical conditions. In the case of an emergency, this information is quickly accessed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs), emergency room physicians, and other healthcare professionals who need it. If you have diabetes, have severe allergic reactions to medications, experience frequent seizures, or some other life-threatening condition, a medical alert identification device can save your life. This is especially true if you are unconcise and unable to communicate.
How the idea for a medical alert ID began!
The idea for the medical alert identification came from a 14-year-old girl in Turlock, California. Linda Collins, the daughter of Dr. Marion Collins, cut her finger and needed medical attention. The cut required a skin test before administering a shot of tetanus antitoxin. Immediately after the skin test, Linda had a severe allergic reaction to an ingredient in the antitoxin. She nearly died! Had she received the full dose of tetanus antitoxin, she may have died!
After that incident, Linda’s parents made sure she had a note pinned to her coat, letting everyone know of her allergy. Wherever she went, to school, sporting events, etc., Linda wore the note. I’m guessing she was embarrassed by the note pinned to her coat, so she came up with the idea of wearing a silver bracelet with “Allergic to Tetanus Antitoxin” engraved on the back. Linda’s father, Dr. Collins, came up with the idea of putting the words “MEDIC ALERT” along with the medical profession symbol on the top. Satisfied with their design, Dr. Collins commissioned the help of a jeweler, and the first MedicAlert® bracelet came to be.
Types of Fashionable Medical Alert Jewelry
Many disabled persons live an active lifestyle. They attend school, participate in sports, work in private and public sectors of the community, attend to families, enjoy crafts, and much more. Although the silver medical bracelet was the first fashionable medical alert ID, individuals’ styles, material choices, and social calendars have forced the industry to evolve.
There are all types of fashionable medical alert jewelry to fit users’ desired styles and choices of materials for all occasions. The diabetic fashionista who refuses to be seen in the same outfit twice can find a MedicAlert bracelet or necklaces to match her versatile wardrobe. Likewise, the superstar athlete who is allergic to penicillin can find the perfect sweatproof and unbreakable medical alert bracelet or necklace to stay put. These medical alert devices come in gold, silver, steel, colored silicone, leather, suede, and beaded.
MedicAlert also has a national “emergency response service” that works with the Alzheimer’s Association. Patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia wear a medical alert device. In an emergency or if the patient wanders off, their medical alert device gives first responders and medical professionals the necessary information to treat, identify, and contact family members. Finding a loved one who wandered away from home or nursing facility and getting them the help they need all because of their medical alert bracelet, necklace or watch is worth the annual membership cost.
How To Observe MedicAlert Awareness Month
MedicAlert Awareness movement began over 40 years ago. President Jimmy Carter recognized the MedicAlert Foundation for its work in 1978. On the Foundation’s 40th anniversary, the Governor of California and Governors of 24 other states made August the National MedicAlert Awareness Month. The MedicAlert Foundation received these recognitions because of their desire to save lives and help people with special medical needs. How you can help the Foundation with its mission is to:
- Become a MedicAlert member! If you have a medical condition that requires vital information to be conveyed if you cannot share it in an emergency, a low-cost membership with the MedicAlert Foundation warrants looking into it. Follow the link for more information.
- Spread the word through social media and learn more about the organization using the #MedicAlertBracelet.
- Donate to the Medic Alert Foundation at MedicAlert.org. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, making your donations tax-deductible.
Celebrate National MedicAlert month throughout August. Do not miss any opportunity to help save a life! Mark your calendars next year and the year after that.