Emergency personnel advice re: ID's

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Emergency personnel advice re: ID's
9
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 10:28pm

I have been told by my friend who is a paramedic and also in her last year of Med school that all emergency personnel look for medical ID's, and that it doesn't matter which wrist it's worn on. She said that those of us who will be beading our own bracelets will be fine - and she advises us to only use a medical charm or tag on the bracelet's and not to add additional charms on that bracelet.


I asked because I was wondering if a medical charm would be overlooked if they were to see a beaded bracelet and dismiss it as just a regular piece of jewelry. She said that no, they are trained to look for a medical charm or tag being worn. Good news for those of us amateur jewelers who will be making our own!

       


~* Angie ~*


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 11:15pm
Very helpful information!!!!

That is one thing i had sort of wondered about.

To add a piece of info here...I can't remember who posted the question. In the last diabetes forcast magazine in the back with all the ads. That company that seems to have many of the ads did advertise what it called sport band bracelets. they looked to be either a velcro or a fabric band on the order of what you often see on sports watches. Actually after seeing them, wonder if it would be not that hard to make one using one of the watchbands you can buy in stores. those are often less than $10. NOt sure on logistics of attaching the medic alert ID but there should be some not that difficult ways to do it. Actually wonder if you could do something using plastic letter beads(if no metal is safe), do a little cross stitch strip or maybe even iron on a little transfer logo onto fabric and attach that. I just had to replace my velcro watch band, and the new one has a lttle elasticized strip that the watch pins go through to hook the watch on the strap.

Auntdoxzz

Also must confess although I havent gotten into the beading discussions...that is something i have recently discovered....have a bunch of beads, now just have to set up a good place to work on them!!(lots of light so i can see what i am doing..and maybe even a magnifying glass.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 03-25-2004 - 12:55am

Angie,


Thanks for checking this out. In all my years as a nurse I hadn't heard about wearing it on one wrist or the other. I figured that the emergency personnel would just be glad to find one and know what the patient's history was.


No owl babies yet!

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 03-25-2004 - 2:01am
Thank you so much Angie for letting us know that great information. I always thought it did not matter what wrist you wear your medical alert bracelet on based upone everybody having some people who are more dominant using right or left, which you would not want to wear your bracelet on the dominant wrist that is used more often. I knew they were trained to search for one since there are so many of them out there available these days that you never know what you might come across it also does not hurt a paramedic to look around at all the different styles of them so that they have a better visual reference to go by. So now it is time to make some bead bracelets for the medical alert charms, but I have got to figure out wire sizing so I can get me some sterling silver wire that will do fine with having czech, glass, 14k gold, and sterling silver beads on it. I really need to figure that out as quickly as I can. Let me know if you come across a great place for that information some place, because I sure can use all the help I can get.

Denise ^..^


Mom to

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Fri, 03-26-2004 - 2:32am
Thanks for asking the paramedics and sharing the information with us.

Sent you a message somewhere else. Found 3 thin, fine bracelets at Walmart for $5. They're all silver and one has pearls in cages. I think if I put lobster clasps on the other side it should work!

I'm going to try several places besides the self-addressed, stamped envelope

place for the medallion. Couldn't get the form loaded yesterday or today - computer

said the site wasn't responding. So, sent them the information I figured they'd want.

Hopefully, I'll get the necklace and medallion soon.

I'm wondering if the medallion's shape matters as long as the alert sign

(red cross-can't remember how to spell the right word) is on it and diabetes.

I saw a cat I'd like.

Well, found a bead shop just about a mile from me! It's a little place.

Guess it helps to open your eyes when you're driving.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Fri, 03-26-2004 - 2:38am


While I was at Walmart yesterday (Wed.), saw their version of med alert bracelets. They look like a watch band. In the middle there is a med alert symbol that opens and you can put whatever condition inside it. Oh, they're hypoallergenic, I think.

FYI for anyone who cares.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Fri, 03-26-2004 - 2:42am
I've been watching ever since you gave us the link. How interesting!

Today it looked like she kicked one egg out. Is that correct? Maybe there's

something wrong with the baby.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 03-26-2004 - 10:33pm
HI Kathi! Good news with your finding the bracelets to use! I've seen the kitty ones too with the caduceus on them. My friend didn't seem to think that the shape made a difference as long as it told them what they needed to know.."diabetic" "diabetic - insulin dependent" or "see wallet card" or whatever else you have it say. The bracelets made by Apothecary come pre-engraved and Wal Mart has them in the Pharmacy, behind the counter. They also have the watch band stretchy type bracelets...but those tags aren't at all what I want for my bracelet. I'll use the charm from the free necklace (if it comes!) as a charm for a bracelet that I'll make as a full strand. So many ideas, yet no ID tag yet! I'm going to Wal Mart tomorrow for milk and a birthday card (last minute no less, the party is tomorrow night!) so will check at the pharmacy and hope they have the Diabetic bracelets! Then I'll be on my way to creating a new bracelet! Yay...I'm too excited.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Sat, 03-27-2004 - 9:44pm
My Walmart isn't a super store. The pharmacy didn't have any medallions at all. That's how I ended up in the jewelry dept. Funny, I went to the back corner of the store to the craft dept. to see if they had any ideas. They have have beading stuff, too, but no lobster clasps.

I think I was being followed around the store because I'd put the bracelet package in my jeans pocket so it wouldn't drop from the cart. When I was in college, I did store security for a few months. You learn which "customers" are security. It sure was funny, though, and I bet they were getting really frustrated. I went lots of places in the store looking for ideas. The first thing I put on the checkout was the bracelets. Funny, the person in back of me just turned around and left. There were 4 other customers in back of her! Life sure does have some twists.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Sun, 03-28-2004 - 3:06pm

I did store security too! Yep...look for the *customers* in the grocery store with all the non perishables..there's your loss prevention personnel.


I went to the WalMart near my home yesterday and they had the bracelets, but not diabetic ones. The pharmacist said they ordered the Apothecary stand as a one time deal and when they're out, they're out. I ended up finding one at Walgreen's, so now have a bracelet. Our WalMart's don't have lobster clasps either..I thought that was strange.