Every so often, the topic of emergency medical identification comes up on one or another diabetes-related forum. Most of us agree we should wear some form of identification in case -- Deities forbid -- we should get hit by a car, pass out in the middle of the supermarket, or suffer any of a myriad of Edward Gorey-esque mishaps when we are out solo, or with someone who is not familiar with our medical histories.This holds true whether we have have diabetes or not, whether we are caregivers for people with diabetes or other chronic illnesses, and even whether or not we are out with our parents, spouses, or adult children.
While the advisability of wearing some form of medical identification is pretty much a given, the form and placement of that identification is often the subject of heated discussion and controversy. Some folk have complained about First Responders missing or ignoring their medical IDs; others have had issues when they have been separated from their medical information: their cellphones crushed by a car, thrown in an impact, or stolen; their bracelets and necklaces flying off their wrists and necks (or being removed in the process of extricating them from a crushed vehicle). The First Responders (and family members of First Responders) in our diabetes social networks note that they are trained to check the entire body for medical ID and (where appropriate) follow the instructions.
While many of us hate the idea of wearing something that so obviously brands us as a patient, it would seem to me that the more obviously one's jewelry screams out "medical ID", the more likely it is to be noticed by a First Responder, and the greater the probability that it will, in those circumstances, save our lives. This is, of course, my opinion; yours may vary. On the other hand, the least useful medical ID is the one that is sitting at home on the dresser while you are in a car wreck coming home from work -- so if you absolutely refuse to wear something that looks like a MedicAlert, you are still better off choosing something that looks purely decorative than nothing at all.
Since the less likely that ID is to fly off one's body, the more useful it will be in an emergency, you may want to consider doing what Benno did and get a "diabetes" tattoo.
Another question many of us consider in choosing our medical IDs is how much information 911 (in the US and Canada, 999 in UK, 000 in Australia, etc.) needs to get an appropriate First Responder to us -- or for the fastest First Responder on the scene to treat us? Knowing we have diabetes will get the 911 operator to call in for a paramedic right away, since most Emergency Medical Technicians are not licensed to check blood glucose levels or to administer insulin, glucagon, or intravenous fluids. While more detailed information may be useful in choosing an optimal treatment, First Responders may not have the time or the equipment to call in for this information when they arrive on the scene. (For this reason, immediately-life-threatening conditions such as asthma and anaphylactic allergies (such as peanut and other food allergies) may need to coexist with, or take precedence over, "diabetes" on the front of your medical ID.) On the other hand, having more detailed information available through a secure service may be useful or necessary for a paramedic, doctor, or hospital. MedicAlert is one of a few organizations and ID suppliers that makes that information available to emergency medical personnel via a simple phone call.
My own choice of identification is RoadID's Wrist ID Elite Interactive. While the front side of this version leaves little space for anything other than my name, age, and next-of-kin contact, it points him towards a more detailed medical history as well as my medical insurance information. RoadID was originally designed for runners; it's designed to not fly off your wrist or get messed up in inclement weather. Its celebrity endorsers are cyclists, marathoners, and triathletes. It won't fly off my wrist when I'm on my bicycle, and its design is utilitarian enough to not be mistaken for something purely decorative. The flip side of this is the same for any clothing or jewelry upon which one's name is visible.
What's actually brought this to mind is a recent e-mail from the folk at RoadID telling me they have upgraded the band on new RoadID elite products and offering me the replacement at a reduced price. My own RoadID was a birthday present from The Other Half; his upgraded band is a bit of a Valentine's present from me. (Let's face it, what says "I love you" more than something that can keep the person you love alive and safe in a medical crisis?) Like our original order, this one came with a pass-along coupon. If your mind runs the same way ours do, use the code ThanksBrenda4194239 for $1 off your order.
Choosing on-body medical identification is a personal matter, combining priorities of information, visibility, utility, aesthetics, security, and faith in the body-check skills of your local emergency medical personnel. For anyone who spends time away from others familiar with your personal information, these issues are worth considering.
