ID Bracelets

Do any of you have ID bracelets for your kids? If so, at what age did you get it for them? My son is almost 17 months. And I was thinking, maybe I should get one so that he gets used to wearing it for when he gets older. And then my next question would be, what information did you put on it. My son is on meds, but they can change or get discontinued, so I was thinking of putting the Walgreens phone number that we always use for all of his meds? And then, his pacer is set for VVI 80, but that could change too, so maybe his EP name and number?

Any advice?

Thanks,

Cindy

10 Comments

Thanks and a question

by clichtenberg - 2008-01-27 02:01:08

His must be a strap kind? I wonder if it would be better for it to dangle so it doesn't feel like it binds his wrist? That makes me wonder which kind would be better.

I've been reading a few other posts regarding bracelets and I guess you can join Medicalert.com. I tried going there today and I guess there site is down for the moment. So maybe if they will keep the updated meds it would be worth what ever price it is. And then I guess I would only need to buy a bracelet when it is outgrown or lost. His meds change at almost every appointment. His next appointment in April, I'm hoping that all of his heart meds will be discontinued. He has 5 total. 3 for heat, 1 for reflux, 1 for low calcium. Eventually all should go away. But, the pacer is here to stay.

I'm still gathering information, so please comment with anything that I'm not taking into consideration.



Thanks,

Cindy

med ids

by slarnerd - 2008-01-27 02:01:48

I didn't consider a hanging id for the strangulation hazard if it gets caught on something. With so many med changes, you might just put "medication for XYZ" and hope that one of the ICE numbers you provide can remember them all (maybe your number and that of a good friend or family number).

It is tough at this age. Good luck!

oops

by Shell - 2008-01-27 04:01:20

I meant Medic Alert. (guess I'm hving trouble typing) They also keep track of medication.

medic id

by Shell - 2008-01-27 04:01:37

My parents got me a Medica Alert braclet when I was 8 for my compelete heartblock. I didn't like it and didn't wear it when I was a teenager. Nowadays alot of kids do wear them beacause an increase of food allergies so they wouldn't feel different.(no one my age had one when I was little) Medica alert has sports bands that your son may like better. (and they have kid friendly designs) I say it's better to get him used to wearing one now when he's with you most of the time so when he's not he's safe and you'll have a peace of mind.

Medic Alert Bracelet

by Harry'sMommy - 2008-01-27 05:01:05

Hi there!
We got one for Harry immediately at 18 months. Because of his small size, we got what was intended to be a woman's ankle bracelet, and took out links to fit his wrist (the paramedic who lives across the street suggested that wrist would be more visible than ankle for the majority of the year). We just have "pacemaker" engraved on the inside of it, because he doesn't have any meds or any other conditions, so I can't really help out there. As far as not wanting to wear it, we pretty much put it on him at 18 months and we never take it off. (There was no way his fine motor skills could unhook that lobster-claw clasp!) After the first 2 or 3 days of pulling on it, he forgot about it. He is currently on his second bracelet--he grew out of the 1st one. My husband is a jeweler, so Harry was pretty excited about Daddy making a special bracelet just for him, but it did bother him a bit at first. Hope this info helps . . .Anyway, good luck!

bracelets

by slarnerd - 2008-01-27 12:01:01

Funny, I just ordered one for my son (18 mo) and he HATES it. He howls "off! off! off!" when I put it on him. I think for the time being I am just going to put it on the strap of his car seat or try to get him used to wearing it on his ankle instead of his wrist.

I decided to get one for 2 reasons - one, the pediatrician seemed to think that having a pacer at such a young age is unusual enough that even an observant emt might not notice it right away. Two, I recently learned that only a medtronic machine can interrogate a medtronic pacer, only a st jude a st jude pacer, etc. SO - even if they could tell that was a pacer bulging in his belly, they would waste time trying to figure out the type.

I ordered mine from Sticky Jewelry and it is really cute - with trucks on the band. I got the one that has the medical symbol and says "see other side" - so that his condition & issue and name isn't available for all to see. You can order replacement engraved plates to switch out at any time and bands too. But I just got a link to another site that has really cute bracelets too - I like the jelly ones. I'll paste both links below.
As for info - I put:
NAME
Pacemaker
Medtronic
ICE my cell
ICE my husband's cell

A call to medtronic would give any med assoc the ep's name. You can also put medications and other med issues but I would not suggest giving walgreen's number b/c privacy restrictions would make it difficult for them to get that info quickly. I would suggest that you put the current meds and order a new plate if it changes.

http://www.stickyj.com/

http://www.n-styleid.com/children.html

PM

by vbilbrey - 2008-01-28 01:01:45

I have alternating opinions about it. I can understand you wanting to ensure the safety of your son if God forbid anything ever happened to him. However, on the other hand, I feel that would remind your son every day of his life that something is "wrong" with him. I was raised without much emphasis on my PM (except when I had my Dr. Appts and such) and I hardly ever thought about it. I never really had concerns about it growing up and if there were anything that were to happen, my parents would be able to explain that I had a PM. Now I realize parents can't be there with their kids 100% of the time, but I know there is paperwork that gets filled out for school registration and things, where the parent can put in writing that their kid has a PM and if a parent chooses, this can also be communicated with the P.E. intsructor/coach(es). But my concern is making a big deal about it with their kid and causing the child to have fears about it.

I wish you the best.

I did it! I bought him a bracelet

by clichtenberg - 2008-01-28 05:01:37

I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I was off of work today so, I went ahead and signed up with medicalert. I've been wanting to get him a bracelet since he got his pacemaker in Nov 06. I had put it off, because he is with us most of the time. But, I kept thinking what if we were in a car accident, and I wasn't able to speak for him? Other things too, if he were rushed to the hospital, I want the hospital to know what medications he is on. I know, but don't have the strength and doses memorized.

I opted for the medicalert bracelet. I thought I'd try it out for a year. I was going to get one from one of the many websites, but I thought what if they couldn't get a hold of us? Or we were together, and I wasn't able to speak on his behalf? In those cases they can call medicalert and get the information that is needed. Also, I want him to get used to having a bracelet on. I'm sure after a while, he'll forget it's even there. Kind of like eyeglases.

My son has been thru the wringer, and he keeps fighting the fight! He is my hero.

Thanks everyone. I really feel like this is the right thing to do. I just hope he will wear it!!! :)

Cindy

Adults wear them too

by clichtenberg - 2008-01-28 11:01:42

I hear what you're saying about it being a reminder. So, that gives me more to think about.

Don't you think if you had had a bracelette all along it wouldn't be a big deal to you? Just something that you've always had. Right now, my son is only with us, but in the future he will be with people who hopefully won't realize really how many problems he has (I want him to be treated like everyother child). I plan on treating him just like my other two children. I want him to be as independant as they are. If he has the bracelet or carry's a card on him, I want that peace of mind. Plenty of children with alergies, or asthma ect.. have to deal with the same kind of things. They might have an epi pen, or an inhaler and maybe even a bracelet.

I'm still really leaning on the bracelet, I think his safety outweighs the reminder. Adults have them too. The fact is even when he is old enough to convey his history, he might not be conscious to do it. And I imagine that is why adults have the information on them at all times.

Please everyone, I'm still open to comments on this.

Thanks,

Cindy

I have one

by OIMAPRINCESS2477 - 2008-01-29 02:01:04

Cindy,

Right after I received my pacemaker I went out and bought a Medical Alert Bracelet. I had engraved on the front of mine Pacemaker and on the back it says See Wallet Card. Now I know your little one does not have a wallet yet but he should still have the card with all his information on it. I can also suggest not only the braclet but an Alert Charm that you can put on his Diaper bag if you still have one. And make sure that all of your friends know about his condition and what they should do if something happens. I also recommend that you print out a Emergency Card with the doctors information, pacemaker information, your phone numbers and any medications he may be on and give one to every person that may keep your son for any length on time. Recommend that they keep it in their purse or wallet in case something happens. If you choose to buy the bracelet for him I am sure that he will get use to it after awhile. Hope this helps.

Brittny

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Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.