Medical Alert Bracelet

I usually just carry around the card in my wallet that pdsa provides. Lately though been looking into medical alert bracelets, just feel it will be easier if i am traveling at times to have that as well if i don't always have my wallet. I've been putting it aside for many years, but guess better to be on the safe side.

Other then listing ITP/low platelets and no nsaids, what else is important to include… ?
emergency contact i am guessing would be good. Do you include full name as well?
any suggestions most appreciated.

Also I've been searching for ones that don't call attention, any good sites for ordering from? I saw laurens hope could be possible.

If you are taking prednisone, someone here once suggested having that on a bracelet - because let's say you are out of it due to an accident, it could be pretty serious if you go without your prednisone for a couple of days.
Erica

I personally prefer a medicalert bracelet. Don't think they would necessarily go through your wallet and find the card as fast as they would find the necklace. If I wear a bracelet, I can't wear a watch.

I bought one on etsy. If you haven't heard of Etsy it is a website that provides a place for individuals to sell their handmade crafts. There are some decent options for medical alert bracelets on there. I got mine through a shop called thought blossoms. I got one with a brushed copper plate and brown leather band. It's really nice. I'd suggest getting the magnetic clasp if you get that style. The hook and eye clasp that I got make it a little challenging to put on with one hand but otherwise I have no complaints.

I wasn't sure what info to put either. I went with autoimmune ITP, low platelets, and I also put my blood type on it. I live in Boston and wasn't at last years marathon but was close by enough to see everyone stumbling away from it in a complete daze after the bombings, and then since I work at a hospital I saw how strained the area hospitals were. Seeing all that confusion amidst so many medical emergencies I just thought any additional info could help. Plus I'm not taking any medications so I had the space to fill.

www.etsy.com/shop/ThoughtBlossoms

I have had a bracelet for years and years! I can wear mine with a watch. It has certainly given me a great sense of security.
In Canada:
www.medicalert.ca Your info is on file and responders can easily access this information. When signing up the form asks all the necessary questions.

Sharon knowing some who work in the EMS field I've been told that in an emergency they are not going to take precious time and go through a purse or wallet - if you want something you need it to be visible to them, a necklace or a bracelet.

I wore a "real" medic alert bracelet for about 3 years when I was traveling a lot and not confident of my counts. I wore it on the same wrist as my watch, with the information facing the inside of my wrist. It had the words "Low Platelets" on it (not all medical professionals know what ITP is) and a code to call Medic Alert and be put in touch with my doctor(s) and emergency contact. I paid about $30 a year to have that information available with a phone call. To me it was worth it for several years. Now I can still wear the bracelet and it says low platelets, but a call to medic alert wouldn't get anyone info about doctors or other contacts. Now that cell phones are ubiquitous and have ICE numbers, maybe it's not as important.

Last year when I was sick and pretty sure my platelets were down, I wore the bracelet on a work trip. I'm happy to say I've never needed it, but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Thanks, all these suggestions are terrific, as been shopping around. I will def check out etsy though since I love the site and buy different items through it, didn't know they had med alert bracelets. Blood type would prob be something to def include.
Thank you all!

More and more medics are being trained to look for ICE contacts in a cell phone if they can find it. That being said we are going to use the ICE app for anddoid phones you can add info as well as it will send an automatic message to the people you program as your ICE contacts. We're going to use it in addition to the medic alert bracelet.

I purchased my Medical bracelet on line through "American Medical ID." They have nice medical bracelets and other medical ID items.

My full name is on first line. Second line: I.T.P. - Low Platelets. Third line: Bleeding Disorder

I wear my medical ID bracelet with my watch. I never go anywhere without it since my platelet count is low.

My daughter had one made for me! One of those Italian charm ones. Thanks for posting this think I'll take a few minutes and find it clean it up and start wearing it again since I'm no longer in remission!



Well that idea went out the window can't find it!

Jason, please tell us more about the "In case of emergency" apps for android. Which one do you use? Can you use it with a lockscreen widget?

It's called ICE Emergency Contact. So far we have just been playing with it on the phones to "beta" test it ourselves if you will.

It seems pretty cool so far you can add:
Your personal Data i.e. Name etc
Allergies
Pathologies
Medications
Notices (kind of a free form text list that we are using for additional text info)

(for the free version) I can add up to 2 ICE contacts that once activated will receive a custom typed text message along with the GPS coordinates of the phone. With the paid version (I think it's a couple bucks you get unlimited ICE Contacts) I'll be upgrading it soon after we finish "beta testing"

If you add the widget you get a nice 2x3 box with "ICE Send Alert" which initiates the auto texts (after a 15 second timer expires that allows you to cancel the alert if you mistakenly hit it) Then the app opens straight to the information screens. So far it seems promising. I really like the GPS coordinates coming across my phone so if need be I can pass them on.

So far it seems promising.

JM

P.S. I was concerned about it being a battery drain if I were going to have to leave the phone's GPS enabled all the time in "high accuracy" mode but the app seems to (even if disabled) turn on the GPS to "high accuracy" and pulls the coordinates and then shuts itself back down to the lower settings.

I ordered mine from N-StyleID.com The prices are reasonable and the best part is that they make some that are interchangeable. You can order one tag and then the different bracelets detach and you can switch them. I ordered one for casual wear and one for dressier situations. Their styles are unique and the delivery was super fast.

Mine says "ITP Low Platelets, No NSAIDS, Blood Type B Pos"

Another company to look into is RoadID.com. They're known for doing ICE ID wristbands and other products for runners and cyclists.

I actually got one a few years ago before having any medical issues. Single guy, lives alone, travels by himself, etc. just seemed to make sense to have something on just in case. Makes even more sense now that I'm going through everything with ITP. In fact, I just updated mine last night.

tamar wrote: It had the words "Low Platelets" on it (not all medical professionals know what ITP is) and a code to call Medic Alert and be put in touch with my doctor(s) and emergency contact.

I've noticed this too. As a result, I surveyed the various healthcare professionals I come into contact with, and many do not even know what "thrombocytopenia" is. I now use "low platelets (ITP)" on my emergency medical information.

Has anyone here actually been in an emergency while waring a medical alert bracelet? Has wearing the bracelet proved useful?