8 Compelling Reasons To Wear a Medical ID Bracelet

I used to think that that medical ID bracelets were just for diabetes or heart patients, but I have had to think again!

Have you noticed that once a really great idea hits the market, new uses get discovered? The original bracelets seem to have set off a chain reaction! Suddenly nearly everyone that I know has or has a need for some kind of medical alert jewelry. Now that they come in a variety of styles, colors, and materials, and not just clunky steel, their popularity is really zooming. You could say aesthetics has teamed up with usefulness!

Here are eight really compelling reasons to wear medical alert jewelry:

1. Peanut allergy. Your child can point emphatically to his or her colorful but official bracelet at school or camp or when visiting friends to remind everyone that this is a serious allergy. You can use it for other food allergies as well, of course.

2. Medical allergies. Your medical ID bracelet can list all the kinds of medications that you should NOT receive due to prior negative experiences. If you have a latex allergy, that should be noted too.

3. Medical interactions. Your ID can list all your prescribed medications so that you are not administered drugs that have dangerous interactions with them. If you are ill or injured, your bracelet will do the talking for you.

4. Serious medical conditions requiring regular medication. If you are ever in an accident and rendered unconscious, you’ll want the medical authorities to administer your heart or other medications.

5. Alzheimer’s syndrome. More than one elder with dementia who has wandered has been rescued by having a prominent medical ID bracelet that allowed others to contact the patients’ family.

6. Asthma. In case of an attack, the sufferer might not be able to communicate clearly. The medical information could save a life.

7. Diabetes. Given that diabetics can suffer a hypoglycemic attack which can turn into a diabetic coma if not properly diagnosed and treated, wearing a medical alert bracelet is a necessity.

8. Epilepsy. Again, when the person cannot communicate for himself, the bracelet or dog tag or other medical alert jewelry can provide necessary information for responders.

How many more good reasons can you add? What medical condition should others know about, especially first aid responders and medical emergency teams, regarding you or someone you love? It’s as simple as ordering online any of the fashionable or sporty or practical models that appeal to you.

As I see it now, medical alert jewelry is simply one of the most effective ways to insure that a medical condition is recognized quickly and treated appropriately, with notification of doctor or family as necessary. This is especially important in case of accident or illness that makes it difficult or impossible to communicate this information clearly.

Kayla's Cool Medical ID Bracelet

When my sister Beth called to tell me the news, I was shocked. No one in our family had ever been diagnosed with diabetes. How could it be that her 12-year-old daughter Kayla has diabetes? “Isn’t that a disease for old folks?” I thought.

If you are like me, you don’t pay much attention to something until it hits close to home, so I have to admit I really did not understand what it all meant. We are a pretty close-knit family, so the whole clan went through a kind of crash course in juvenile diabetes so that we could support Kayla and her family.

While Beth and family bears the brunt of the responsibility for her care, as her loving aunt, I want to do all I can to help her lead as normal and happy a life as possible. One thing I know is that Kayla already feels awkward when she is at the center of attention for this, at home and at school. She’d rather people paid attention to her for her other qualities, such as her extraordinary friendliness and budding artistic abilities.

So when she told me she hated how other kids were always asking her about the rather institutional-looking metal medical ID bracelet that she now must wear, I sympathized immediately. She was toying with the idea of leaving it at home on school days.

But as I had learned, all diabetics must wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace. In an emergency situation, 95% of medical personnel check for these IDs. It can save their lives. Like a lot of adolescents, she’s a whiz at the computer, so we sat down together to discover what the options are for medical alert jewelry.

We were delighted to find a wide variety of choices. Kayla immediately took to the ones I’ll call “designer’s choice” for their use of color, materials and design. She picked out two fashionable mesh versions, in turquoise and violet. I also bought two necklaces with juvenile diabetes awareness pendants, one for me and one for Beth.

When the package with the medical bracelet arrived, I invited Beth and Kayla for a special “Girls Only” lunch date for the debut. It was a truly special moment that I will never forget. Seeing Kayla smile as she let me fasten the medical bracelet on her wrist touched me to the core, even more than the hug and thanks.

The really cool thing? Kayla tells me that the other girls did indeed start asking her about her stylish medical ID bracelet—and this time because they wanted one for themselves! And I feel great knowing that I was able to help my precious niece in a small but important way.