Med. alert

Just wondering how many have a medical alert bracelet for a pacemaker? Is it a good idea or not to have one? Thanks Stacy

11 Comments

I do

by boatman50 - 2007-10-25 01:10:26

I have one that is a "dog tag" style. Since I was in the military it was easy to get used to wearing this. I feel its a good idea because I am still active and should something go wrong it may help the doctors to know my history.

Bracelet

by sweetkozy - 2007-10-25 01:10:58

I have worn a med alert bracelet ever since I was implanted with my PM. I think it's a good idea to have one just incase. I also wear one because I have been told that I am a walking medical disaster. hehehe. Anyway, mine is a silver bracelet and no one really ever notices it. You can also get some pretty fancy one's too where they look just like an ordinary ornate bracelet or necklace, but you have to pay an arm and a leg for them. :) Hope that helps with your decision.

- You would hate for the docs to put you in an MRI machine, not realizing you have PM, because you were unconscious. :)

Cheers,
Jenny

I wear one...

by paf - 2007-10-25 02:10:01

but I'm jewelry freak anyway. I never take it off except to occasionally clean it. I commute everyday to downtown Houston and feel better knowing medics have the information they need "just in case." I think it also gives my husband a measure of comfort knowing I wear it -- there's no way he could remember what's what in an emergency.

Plus, I picked out a gold one (naturally!) and it looks great with everything. Any excuse for the sparkly stuff!

Good Idea!

by ela-girl - 2007-10-25 02:10:43

Hi, Stacy!

I also have a medic alert bracelet. If you don't like bracelets, they have different items like necklaces, sports and stretch bands, dog tags, watches, a USB flash drive on a key ring, etc. It is $39.95 to enroll for the first time and $25 every year after that.

It is really peace of mind. When you order your bracelet, you can do two things as far as the engraving is concerned. You can either have the medic alert people engrave it with what they feel is the most important information you have on file, or you can call them and discuss it with a representative. I chose to talk to someone, and I'm glad I did! If you are getting a small emblem you have 60 spaces to work with--90 if it is a large emblem. They will not abbreviate a conditions/meds unless it is an abbreviation that not only doctors use but paramedics as well--they have a medically approved list they can look through. The back of your emblem will have the 800 emergency number at the top and your member i.d. number at the bottom. Your medical information will go in between. They will only list that you have a pacemaker (not the kind--that info, will be on file at medic alert, though) and then the conditions why you have the pacemaker. To give you an idea, my bracelet reads like this:
800 #
pacemaker
syncope
bradycardia
takes b-blocker
no latex
my member id #

I also have drug allergies but nothing that they would give in a medical emergency like morphine or aspirin or penicillin, so I left that off my bracelet and emergency personnel can get that by calling anyways...

When you get your emblem in the mail it will come with a copy of your personal health history that you typed in online, a medic alert cling for your car, and a card with your medical conditions/medic alert # and id that you can put in your wallet. You can get into your account any time and make updates to your information with no cost to you. You can also request a new id card with the new information at any time with no cost to you.

As far as doctor name and number...you get 5 personal and medical contacts on your medic alert account. Not five of each but 5 altogether. So, you will input your personal contacts (name, numbers, and relationship to you) and medical contacts (dr. name, number, fax, type of doctor) and you can check a box to pick the primary person to contact for your personal and medical contacts. These are the people medic alert will contact for you in case of an emergency.

You can also rest assured that the medical community endorses the use of medic alert big time and medical personnel are taught to look for medic alert products.

OK. I've said too much!
ela-girl

excelent

by marisab - 2007-10-25 05:10:43

if u dont have one you need one. Whenever you travel through the airport you can show your bracelet to them, not only that but if something happens to you medically and u cat talk and someone cant tell them then they can call the number on your bracelet and get all your info. I've had 4 bracelets or 3 since i was a baby. 14 years later i still have 1.

NU-B

by NU-B - 2007-10-25 05:10:44

Ordered one that was really nice - like a regular bracelet - paid @ $70-80 -but I thought it was worth it - I work in a hospital - and I know how many people are scheduled for MRI's that the docs ordering don't know that their patients have an ICD/CRT-D - or whichever they may have - I agree w/sweetkozy above - if you're unconscious - they will never know - I also have ICE #'s on my cell phone - my husband/son & recently included my pacer rep....so I feel like I'm covered........

Med Alert

by Carol - 2007-10-25 12:10:42

Hi sohare, I don't have one, but I did put the info in my cell phone under the "In Case of Emergency" section. I really don't like wearing bracelets, but I understand they also make necklaces with this info that I might consider getting. I think its probably always a good idea to have medical info somewhere on you just in case you can't speak for yourself...Have a great day, Carol

Price of Alert Bracelet

by janetinak - 2007-10-26 02:10:20

I agree with all comments above. I wear one altho somewhat reluctant @ 1st. Look at calalogue (available on line) some nice looking ones. I opted for a gold filled bracelet & as I bought it when I first joined I understand the membership includes the stainless steel bracelet but can put the price of that to a more expensive one so not as much cost. I wear it everywhere except to the pool where I have been told that chlorine will change color & not for the better. Also you get a sticker for your car window to let 1st responders know you are a member. Personally I feel much safer with it.

Janet

bracelet

by Shell - 2007-10-26 04:10:53

I've had one since I was 8 for a complete heart block.. Of course when I was in jr high i decided I didn't want to wear it amymore. (surprisingly my parents didn't make me) I had it attached to my key ring instead. I did wear it when I went on my honeymoon and when I was pregnant. After my second son was born I decided to splurge and get a gold plated one.(complete gold is too much for me) I've worn one since then (7 1/2 years) I had to get a new one 1 1/2 years ago after I got my pm. It now says: Pacemaker, complete heart block, takes coumadin. I always wear it now. (even in the pool, nothing has happend to it) I'm just so used to it and have even gotten complements on it. (some people don't realize it's a medic alert bracelet.)

Do It

by bowlrbob - 2007-10-26 06:10:10

I got a titainium one, I thought that was appropriate since the pacer is made of the same thing. Not too flashy but nice. cost about $45.00. bowlrbob

Medical alert bracelets

by DMW - 2012-01-13 12:01:37

Any suggestions as to specific manufacturers or where to buy them?

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