Questions to paramedics or ER personnel. And other questions to those that have or need some sort of medic alert device.
I’m allergic to many types of antibiotics - I’ve only ever had them prescribed three times, but been allergic to all three.
I’ve been thinking that it’s probably a good idea to wear something in case I’m incapacitated and somebody wants to start a course of antibiotics without knowing that this could cause me harm.
So - what do paramedics and ER people look at before administering medications? Anything? Strictly at the wrist and around the neck? Would I be safe just putting a card in my wallet (I understand that my wallet and I may not be together at the time that the question of allergies or existing conditions comes up)?
Questions to other dopers.
Do you wear some type of alert? What type do you wear? Where did you get it? I’m not someone who wears jewelry and this will be a challenge to find something that I like - I’m a guy btw.
Do you have some condition which warrants an alert, yet choose not to wear one?
The bracelets and necklaces are a good idea - it’s what the EMTs and paramedics will see first. We don’t usually look for wallets, and if we do, we hand them over to the cops or family members.
Antibiotics are usually administered in the ER (rather than in the field), and if we can tell the ER personnel what you’re allergic to as soon we get you in there, it’s a huge help.
It could also be a help in determining why you need help in the first place - if you’ve had some sort of allergic reaction, we’d know why.
I’m… probably allergic to penicillin, but don’t wear an alert.
Background: My sister is definitely allergic to penicillin. However, whenever I was given penicillin as a child, my mood would swing violently. Normally I was a sweet, laid-back kid, even when ill (a little whiny but well-behaved), but apparently on penicillin I’d turn into a screamy little bitch. My pediatrician finally said forget it, we have other drugs we can give her, and I haven’t had a need to have penicillin or one of its ‘relatives’ since.
The problem is that every time I tell another new doctor this when they go through the “any known allergies?” questions, they laugh. But really, it was serious enough that my doctor stopped prescribing it and that my mother clearly stated that yes, the mood change was dramatic and distinctive. I was young enough that I couldn’t verbalize why I was feeling that way.
So, I don’t wear an alert. I figure that penicillin isn’t something that I’m likely to encounter that would send me into anaphylactic shock, and it’s probably not something that I’m likely to get while unconscious and before my emergency contact people could be reached.
They sell personalized engraved IDs that fit on a bracelet and shoe pouch. So if you’re out exercising and something happens and you’re not carrying ID, it can double as a MedicAlert bracelet (allergies, medical conditions) and a normal ID (name, contact information).
I’ve never seen a guy choose the necklace. One consideration is your activities. What is more dangerous for you? You know the acident because something got caught on machinery type injury.
What do you do for a living? That may dictate your choice as well. In Wisconsin, foodworkers are now not allowed to wear bracelets, including Medic Alert Bracelets, so if you’re in the food business you may want to think about using a necklace. Same goes for if you do anything around machines…or really if spend any time near anything that spins really fast.
My dad recently due to some heart issues went on Wafrin or Coumidin (don’t know if I am spelling those right) and his doctor recomended getting a medic alert bracelet that indicated that.
A coworker recomended this site as his wife is diabetic and they offer a call center operation as well. The bracelets they sell can be serial numbered to the recipiant and when admitted to hosptial a call to a 800 number will unlock a treasure of information that can-not be contained on the limited space of the bracelet. I have considered getting him one of their E-Keys, a usb Key Fob device that you can update with all the meds he is on and that emergency personell would have access to. To me it seems like he has an entire pharmacy that he takes every day and being able to keep straight what meds he is on would be easier with device than trying to remember all of them and their strengths if something happened away from home. This would be in addition to the generic bracelet.
Any ER Docs or EMT have any experience with these USB devices?
I am allergic to sulfa and penicillin (just got re-tested as I had a weird reaction as a child to both). I am waiting for my vespid (bee sting) test in January before I order my bracelet. I used to have one and it listed all three.
Mostly I work while seated at a desk. I don’t handle food or operate equipment very often.
I like to think that I walk the shop floor and help out from time to time. The pilots and maintenance engineers would probably have something to say about that.
But I digress
Thanks for the responses. Very helpful and interesting.
That “e-key” is still in its infancy, and not all ER’s have gotten the word from Medic-Alert yet. (Mine hasn’t anyway). My advice is to keep an eye on it’s progress and go ahead with the bracelet.
Mr. Jeeves is a type 1 diabetic, and since he can’t stand the bracelet or necklace, he got the medic alert symbol with appropriate coding tattoo’d on his wrist. He has gotten comments from several doctors and nurses on how nifty that is. He figures if diabetes is ever cured he will be more than happy to pay to have the tatt removed.
That e-key thing would be wonderful for my husband. Just filling doctors in on his medical history and medications takes forever. He carries a list in his wallet, but that’s still hard to access in an emergency.
WinkieHubby is a transplant recipient with strong dislike for jewelry - but serious love for his watch. Would anyone find the medic alert info if he had it (with the insignia, of course) engraved on the flat clasp of his watch?
He’s carried a wallet card until now, but this thread is confirming my fears that no one would find it.
I’d shy away from those for now. IME, most ERs and ambulances won’t be able to access your data in a timely fashion. While the trend is towards more electronic patient records, there’s no guarantee the computers available will have USB access. We’re starting with Toughbooks on the 1st, I’ll see what I can find out about these things when I get back from vacation.
I second, third, whatever the necklace or bracelet suggestion.
