The benefits of a medical ID 15 August 2022 1. A medical ID will do the talking for you In an emergency medical situation, you may not be able to communicate with first responders or whoever’s taking care of you for various reasons. For example, you may be unconscious or otherwise impaired – or you may live with a condition that makes communication difficult. In this case, a medical ID will do the talking for you. It’ll give whoever’s looking after you all the important health information they need, without you or anyone else having to answer questions. 2. A medical ID can make it quicker for medical professionals to make a diagnosis In many medical emergencies, time is incredibly important. It can mean the difference between a situation being successfully resolved or having serious consequences. For instance, when someone with epilepsy has a seizure that lasts for more than five minutes or has multiple seizures within a five-minute period (what’s called ‘status epilepticus’), early treatment can be life-saving. Therefore, it’s important that diagnoses are made as quickly as possible so the right treatment can be given. A medical ID can also be especially helpful if you or your loved one suffers from a particularly rare condition or allergy. 3. A medical ID can protect you against potentially harmful medical errors Your medical condition might mean that some standard treatment options cause you more harm than good – for instance, if you have a severe allergy to any medication, such as penicillin. In this case, your medical ID can prevent you from being treated with anything that could make your condition worse or place you in greater danger. 4. A medical ID can minimise the risk of healthcare professionals misreading your symptoms Healthcare professionals aren’t perfect and sometimes they can misinterpret your symptoms. For instance, some signs of seizures can be mistakenly interpreted as indicators of intoxication or drowsiness. Or, if you live with visual impairment, first responders may interpret your lack of eye response to mean that you’ve suffered head trauma. By having your full medical record on hand, you can reduce the likelihood of healthcare professionals misreading your symptoms, so you can get the right treatment as quickly as possible. JOIN NOW 5. A medical ID can help your children or grandchildren to be more independent We all worry about our children or grandchildren’s safety, but this worry can intensify if they’re living with a medical condition or allergy that makes them particularly vulnerable. However, by getting them a medical ID, you can hopefully find comfort in the knowledge that they stand the best chance of receiving the correct treatment, regardless of where they are. 6. Wearing a medical ID can give our friends and family peace of mind When it comes to our friends and family, we tend to spend our time worrying about them as opposed to thinking about how they worry about us. Though, if you live with a medical condition or allergy, chances are, your loved ones worry about you when they’re not around. Wearing a medical ID can provide them with the reassurance that you’ll be looked after properly in the event of an emergency. 7. Wearing a medical ID can help you travel without worry Travelling can be nerve-wracking if you’re living with a medical condition or allergy. If you need medical attention while abroad, there are a few hurdles that could complicate things – a language barrier or unfamiliar healthcare systems, for example. A medical ID can help here, as it gives whoever’s treating you access to your medical history with a quick phone call. The MedicAlert emergency helpline is not only available 24/7, but also from anywhere in the world and in 100 languages and dialects. JOIN NOW 8. Wearing a medical ID means that you won’t have to carry around printed documents Depending on your circumstances, you may need to carry around printed documents like rare condition fact sheets, DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate orders), implant information, or care plans, to guide medical professionals caring for you in an emergency. This can sometimes be inconvenient, as documents can be lost or forgotten. But, by wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace you can make sure you’re never without any vital information. 9. With MedicAlert, all your information is in one place Being a MedicAlert member isn’t only helpful in an emergency situation. In fact, having all of your information in one place is also convenient in other instances, like when you’re attending a medical appointment. In this case, you can take your MedicAlert Wallet card or printed record and provide healthcare professionals with all of your information in a clear and easy-to-read format. MedicAlert also make it quick and simple to check and update your medical records, too. 10. Wearing medical ID can give you greater freedom and independence Depending on your circumstances, having a medical condition or allergy can make spending time alone or with new people feel daunting. You may be worried about not having someone around who knows your medical history in an emergency. But, these fears can cause you to miss out on many elements of a healthy lifestyle, such as socialising with new people or exercising – which are beneficial for both your physical and mental health. Your condition shouldn’t cause you to miss out on leading an independent life. Wearing a medical ID can help you maintain greater independence. For example, it might give you the confidence to go for a solitary walk or meet up with some new friends – all while having the peace of mind that if anything happens, those around you will have access to your complete medical records. Click below to receive the latest MedicAlert news, articles and offers directly to your inbox SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER Article Categories MedicAlert News Health and Wellbeing
