Choosing the Perfect engraving for your MedicAlert ID when living with Allergies

Allergies affect not only what you can safely eat and drink but also the medication that you can take, with many medications containing certain ingredients which could cause allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.

Your digital medical record can include information about your allergies and reactions, as well as other underlying conditions and health concerns which may impact the treatment you require and how medication should be administered. And thanks to MedicAlert, this information can be accessed via our 24/7 emergency helpline using your unique membership number, which is clearly displayed on your medical ID jewellery.

In this blog, we explain why it’s important for those living with allergies to use a medical ID and how it could save your life in an emergency.

Why is it important for people with allergies to wear a medical ID?

A MedicAlert ID is a one-stop touchpoint through which a first responder can access all of the important medical information relating to an individual, both in terms of conditions that they are living with and allergies which affect what they can eat, drink, and be given in terms of treatment and medication.

By wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace, first responders are able to get this information even if you are unable to communicate it yourself. MedicAlert jewellery combines the most crucial details on the back of a medical ID, with your unique membership number which allows access to your full digital medical record, enabling quick treatment at a time when every second counts. In the case of medication allergies which can be particularly difficult to spot and identify, a medical ID bracelet will be engraved directly with important information needed in an emergency, such as an allergy to penicillin.

This immediately lets the first responders know that you have an allergy and that they need to keep this in mind both in treating you themselves and in handing you over to other medical professionals – saving time and potentially saving your life.

The importance of advanced decision making – and how a MedicAlert ID can help

The number one benefit of MedicAlert ID or any form of medical ID is that if you need help in an emergency situation, the first responder or team attending to you will be able to identify allergies to any medication and adjust your treatment accordingly.

By taking the decision to outline these allergies both on your medical ID tag and in the more comprehensive details accessible using your membership number, you ensure a more streamlined approach to treatment if and when it’s required – with critical information effectively communicated even if you are unable to share these details yourself.

With so many different forms of medical ID now available on the market, including wearable bracelets and necklace tags, sport-specific ID, car and bike accessories, and medical tags which are designed for and well suited to kids and young wearers, it’s easier than ever to make sure that your allergies and hidden conditions aren’t ignored in case of an emergency or critical issue.

Real-life examples of how MedicAlert ID can save people with allergies

You only have to know the founding story of MedicAlert as an organisation to understand how crucial a MedicAlert ID can be for those living with severe allergies to standard medication.

When she was just 14 years old, Linda Collins had a cut and was given a dose of tetanus antitoxin to protect her from picking up any disease through the cut. Little did the medical professionals know, Linda had a severe allergy to the treatment and, given a higher dose, would have had a much more serious reaction. 

As a result, her parents attached a tag to her which outlined her allergies – something which, over time, transitioned into the MedicAlert ID tag with the universal symbol on one side and the allergies on the reverse side.

Without this information, the likelihood of a similar incident affecting Linda again or one of her peers remained, and so the interest in and popularity of the MedicAlert ID tag grew and expanded exponentially – eventually becoming a global enterprise.

Since then, MedicAlert has earned charity status and has a membership base of over 45,000 members.

To discuss becoming a member yourself, or for support and advice on MedicAlert ID and medical ID types, get in touch with us directly.