Why are Medical IDs Critical?
If you have ongoing medical conditions, drug or food allergies, or take multiple medicines, your doctor has probably recommended that you wear a medical ID. That’s because medical IDs are a simple way to communicate important information to first-responders in an emergency.
Benefits of wearing a medical ID?
Medical IDs save lives: they eliminate trips to the hospital, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and prevent minor emergencies from becoming major ones. In an emergency, when you might be unable to speak for yourself, a medical ID bracelet or necklace speaks for you.
Half of all medical errors occur because of mistakes made upon admission or discharge from the hospital. Wearing a medical ID protects against potentially harmful medical errors.
Prompt diagnosis is critical to effective treatment, but symptoms of common ailments can easily be misdiagnosed. A brief description of vital medical facts engraved on your medical ID ensures appropriate and timely medical care.
American Medical ID surveyed emergency medical professionals ranging from first responders to paramedics. Among the results:
- More than 95 percent of respondents look for a medical ID during emergencies.
- More than 75 percent look for a medical ID immediately upon assessing a patient.
Who should wear a medical ID?
There are a number of reasons to wear a medical ID. People with certain medical conditions wear medical IDs to alert emergency medical professionals in an emergency. Some people order medical IDs engraved with their blood type, online health records, and contact information. Some examples of conditions that warrant a medical ID are:
- Allergies to Foods, Drugs or Insects
- Alzheimer's/Memory Impairment
- Blood disorders
- Blood thinners/ Anticoagulants (Coumadin/Warfarin)
- Cardiac problems (angina, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, pacemakers)
- Children with Special Needs
- Clinical trial participants
- Emphysema/Breathing disorders
- Epilepsy/Seizure disorder
- Hearing, sight or mental impairment
- Kidney Failure
- Pulmonary Conditions (Asthma/COPD)
- Rare diseases
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Stroke risk
- Surgery, transplant and cancer patients
- Taking multiple medicines
- Tourette Syndrome