If your child struggles with anxiety about their health condition, MedicAlert can be the solution.

The benefits of a MedicAlert ID for a child with a health condition or allergy will often go unspoken. Some children carry a lot of anxiety about their health and can find it very hard to advocate for themselves. They could have difficulty conveying how serious the health concern is to adults and other children, or they will worry that the person in charge of them at school or sport won’t know how to handle an emergency.

A MedicAlert bracelet can represent the voice of their parents and doctors so that they don’t have to feel they’re being difficult or at risk of standing out.

However, parents sometimes tell us that they struggle to get their child to wear their MedicAlert ID, especially as they get older, and status and identity become more important to them. For some kids, they may feel singled out as different and that it draws attention to something they'd prefer no one knew.

Statistics show that in reality, they’re not alone. According to a study done by Young People's Health, approximately 1 in 7 children have at least one long term health condition; with asthma, anxiety, developmental issues and food allergies the most common. As a result, our children’s empathy and understanding of another child’s health issues has improved over time with the added focus on initiatives such as allergy-free school canteens and more inclusivity within school settings.

We know one of the great follow-on effects of wearing something like a MedicAlert bracelet proudly is that it gives other children the permission to wear one and raises awareness about their own particular health issue.

Encouraging your child

To engage your child in the idea of wearing their MedicAlert medical ID bracelet or necklace, try these tips:

• Introduce the idea of the MedicAlert ID bracelet or necklace as early as possible.
• Talk to your child about their ID:
  • Discuss what is written on the bracelet and explain to them that a first responder is trained to look for a bracelet or necklace at the pulse points first.
  • Reassure them their MedicAlert ID bracelet has their unique membership number which gives first responders access to all of their information, including their name, address, doctor’s details, medications etc.
  • Explain that your contact number is available to those caring for them, via their full MedicAlert record, and you can specify that you're called if they feel that hearing your voice could help in an emergency.
• Include putting the MedicAlert ID on into their routine. Try making it part of getting dressed or after brushing their teeth.
• For small children, get them excited about getting an ID as a birthday present or as a ‘big kid’ accessory when they start school.
• Have your child choose a new ID bracelet or necklace style at the start of every school year so that it fits them well and reflects their tastes or current trends.
• Consider a second MedicAlert ID for different activities, such as sport or special occasions, which can increase the likelihood that you child always has their ID on.
• If your child lives with a condition such as ADHD, ADD or autism, they may be prone to fiddling and removing their ID - often leaving it somewhere by accident. Consider a Forget-Me-Not bracelet, which they cannot remove without your help. 

For some children, wearing a bracelet for the first time can be an unusual sensation, so we advise to try building up the length of time they wear the bracelet over a series of days or weeks, with lots of your usual positive reinforcement.

Don't forget to consider additional pointers towards your child's record and ID. At MedicAlert, we have several options including Wallet Cards, Wristband Tags that fit on fitness trackers and watch straps, Wallet Card Holders that can go on a school bag handle, and Document Holders that attach to seat belts and prams. These solutions give you peace of mind that your child’s vital medical information can go with them wherever they go. 

MedicAlert is proud to have the opportunity to help you protect your children. If you want to find out more about how MedicAlert can help your child, just click below.