What type of medical ID jewelry should I get?

I have the pm put in last week and had to have hardware put into my lower back a few weeks before that. I thought it would be nice to have something to wear showing all of this so that I didn't have to dig in my wallet everytime I went through and alarm system and made it go off. Where do I look for medical ID bracelets? I would like one to wear all the time and then one for water. Also, is there a symbol for pacemakers that I could have engraved on it? Sorry for so many questions. I just don't know where to look for the answers.

11 Comments

I like my Medic Alert bracelet

by janetinak - 2009-03-09 03:03:06

I got a gold filled one made in women's size. Can't tell if you are female but suspect you are given your screen name. When I 1st signed up with them, I elected to get the gold filled one instead of the steel one that came with initial membership. Also there are fans on this site for other companies & I hope they weigh in to give you that info. Goggling it is a good idea.

I wear my bracelet all the time except in the pool. Told that it would change its color as chlorine gets under the 1st layer. In fact, I just had the emblem rebuilt as I have worn it down from years iof wearing it every day. I also was given a sticker to put on my car window that lets others know that I have a medical alert bracelet (can get other things like watches or necklace if you prefer) in case I can't tell them.

Good luck with your choice,

Janet

necessary?

by Mikey likes everything - 2009-03-09 03:03:46

How necessary is medical identification jewelry? I figured if I ever fainted they would feel the gigantic lump of metal sticking out of my chest.
I always thought that medical identification jewelry draws unnecessary attention to one's self.

cabg

by Tracey_E - 2009-03-09 04:03:25

great minds think alike, huh? :o)

yep, it's necessary

by Tracey_E - 2009-03-09 04:03:56

Mikey you sound exactly like me!!! I never bothered with a medical alert until about two months ago. I didn't want to wear my heart condition on my sleeve, literally, and I assumed a paramedic would pick up on it quickly if I couldn't tell them. Two things happened to make me a convert.

One of our members was in a car accident. Not a really bad one, but not a tiny fender bender either. She was amazed later to realize she never thought to tell the paramedics that she had a pm. Ok, that got me thinking.

Another of our members, live_strong, is a paramedic and she spoke up. She's the one who got me from thinking about it to ordering it and wearing it diligently. If you do a search about 3 months back, you'll find her post with her words. They may see the scar or they may get us on an ekg and see the spikes, but not always. If you're stuck in a vehicle in an accident, they aren't going to see your lump or scar but they will look for medic alert and it affects their priority in how they cut us out. If we have a pm, we will always travel with the lights on and to a hospital that is equipped to deal with a pm.

I have a sports band for the gym and a gold charm bracelet for everywhere else. Neither is particularly bright or obnoxious, but they're both clearly medic alert if you're looking for it.

Like tracey said

by walkerd - 2009-03-09 06:03:23

american medical Id is very good. You can get alot of stuff put on it for free and you can wear it all the time in water or out. I got a bracelet and dog tag for the price of one, they always have deals on there like that, like medic alert they also have a data base with your info if you like for free unlike others. You would be amazed how much they can put on it, for example I have on the front my full name, in case of emeergency have my wifes name and her phone number on it, and on the back have pm/defib, heart patient, no mri,and see wallet Id. I dont think you can beat thier price and the quality of product. They have pricey ones to if that is what you want. good luck and welcome
dave

sports band

by Tracey_E - 2009-03-09 06:03:24

I have a sports band from american medical that I wear when I work out.
http://www.americanmedical-id.com

I usually wear a charm bracelet (already had it) with a gold medallion I got on ebay.

For dress, check out these
http://www.laurenshope.com/

I use american medical's online medical registry for all my details. It comes free with any purchase. All I have on my bracelet is my name, PACEMAKER, omr's phone number and my access code. Anyone who called that number with the code can get my whole medical history, my insurance info, my doctors full contact info, emergency contact, allergies, drugs, you name it.

SOS

by Hot Heart - 2009-03-09 08:03:23

hi there. I just got a steel SOS bracelet from an internet site. It cost me about £15 and inside records my medical probs my emergency contacts etc. I travel overseas a lot and know that the SOS symbol is known worldwide. The good thing about this is that i can change my bracelet or the info inside depending upon where i am, if abroad for example i always have the name of the hotel and my insurance details in the capsule. At this price to be honest you could have one for all eventualities. The only thing i havnt tried with it is if it remains watertight, always take it off when swimming or in the shower.

I didnt look at your prof to see if you are male or female but if yr a guy why not have a little SOS tattood on your wrist with a pm integrated in it?

Take care x


If we have an accident or are taken ill, the first thing a medic will do is check our pulse, so an SOS bracelet is good

Medical tags

by petrolhead - 2009-03-09 09:03:12

I already have an SOS Talisman because I'm severely allergic to wasps, but I'm considering replacing it with one of these now I have a PM too - http://www.medicaltags.co.uk/utag-usb-dog-tag-ice-medical-id.html

It seems perfect for today, every A&E has a PC with a USB drive, and it has the capacity to hold a lot of information. It doesn't look like it's a subscription service, either. £25 equates to about $40, maybe. I'm not sure, lol.

My cardiologist said that the PM has my name and details stored on it, kind of like a dog would have in a microchip! But we'd need a tag of some kind too, because only the interrogating machines would be able to get that data.

Sport related IDs

by ccmoore - 2009-03-09 11:03:49

Here is one that was just emailed to me from a friend.
It looks like it is got started in the biking or running sports but would work with our sparky group.
I like the data base layout and the price seems reasonable $20 to $25 to get started.
It uses a web style band for the wrist or ankle style, dog tag style available

Only a small piece of stainless steel so it may pass through a metal detectors.

web: Road ID
http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

later,
ccmoore

Thanks!

by jljmom - 2009-03-12 09:03:30

Thank you all so much for answering. I had really questioned whether I needed a medical alert bracelet/charm etc.. but the more I read on this site the more I realize it is probably a very smart thing. I've looked at some of the suggested sites and now just have to make up my mind! I've looked at getting a sports band that is waterproof and then one that I wear everyday for work. I cannot tell you how much this site has helped me. I really didn't know that much about pacemakers and didn't have anyone to really ask.

Janet - I didn't know there were stickers for your car! Thanks... yes, I'm a female with 2 young kids.

Judy

very needed!!

by Hot Heart - 2009-03-17 03:03:09

I heel very quickly and my pm scar has faded away almost already. There must be people out there who had their surgery a few years ago whose scars arent visible, and what about the people whove got them inserted in the groin, not the usual area where a paramedic will take a pulse.

As for the metal thing sticking out of your neck, mines under my collar bone, not really noticeable, especially for us ladies with boobies! lol.

Dont wait until someone is trying to insert you into an MRI scanner and you are screaming inside NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Get yourself tagged now!!!!!!!

You know you're wired when...

You have a new body part.

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