Help others help you. Wear a medical alert ID bracelet or necklace engraved with important information for emergency responders and healthcare providers"- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Who Needs a Medical ID?
Who needs to wear a medical ID?
A lot of people ask the question – who needs a medical ID? The answer is simple – people managing cognitive issues like dementia, Alzheimer’s, Autism or developmental disabilities. Those managing conditions that affect communication like hearing loss, or speech issues. And individuals living with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lupus, which may include bouts of incapacitation.
Wearing a medical ID can protect you in an accident or medical emergency. It quickly communicates crucial information about your health condition when you cannot speak for yourself.
Whether you live with a chronic condition or not, a MedicAlert ID offer safety and peace of mind for anyone who choose to wear one.
A medical ID bracelet, necklace or shoe tag can be custom engraved with any medical condition. Physician and health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayo Clinic and American Diabetes Association recommend medical IDs for the conditions below.
Who should wear a medical ID?
Chronic Medical Conditions
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Allergies
- Amyloidosis
- Anemia
- Aphasia
- Arthritis
- Arthritis, rheumatoid
- Asthma
- Ataxia
- Barth syndrome
- Bleeding disorders
- Blood clots
- Breast cancer
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Celiac disease
- COPD
- Crohn’s disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diabetes, type 1
- Diabetes, type 2
- Difficult Intubation
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Emphysema
- Epstein-Barr
- Fibromyalgia
- Gastric bypass and bariatric weight loss surgery
- Graves' disease
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- Hearing loss
- Heart disease or heart failure
- Hemophilia & bleeding disorders
- Hypertension
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Lupus
- Lymphedema
- Kidney disease
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Marfan syndrome
- Mental health
- Myasthenia gravis
- Organ transplant
- Neuropathy
- POTS
- Raynaud's syndrome
- Scleroderma
- Sickle cell disease
- Sjogren's syndrome
- Spinal cord injuries
- Stroke
- Substance abuse disorders
- Ulcerative colitis
- Vision impairment
- Von Willebrand disease
Allergies
Neurological Conditions
- Attention deficit disorder (ADHD)
- ALS
- Alzheimer’s
- Autism
- Bipolar disorder
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental disabilities
- Dementia
- Depression
- Down syndrome
- Epilepsy & seizure disorders
- Huntington's disease
- Mental illness
- Migraines
- Multiple sclerosis
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Parkinson’s
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
- Traumatic brain injury
Medications & Devices
Alternative IDs - beyond medical bracelets
If you’re not in love with the idea of a conventional medical alert bracelet, there’s a world of other options for medical IDs, and the list continues to expand as technology advances.
Whereas traditional IDs are wearable jewelry, such as bracelets and necklaces, there are clever alternatives such as Smart ID shoe tags, stickers and more.
Smart IDs bring medical IDs into the digital age. MedicAlert’s Smart IDs are available as either Smart Medical ID Cards or MedicAlert ICE Tags. Both options use proven QR code technology for fast, easy access to your full health profile. Scanning the unique QR code on either type of Smart ID with a smartphone camera opens up critical information, including medical conditions, allergies, medications, vaccinations, and more.
MedicAlert’s Smart Medical ID Card is credit card-sized and easily carried with you in a wallet or pocket. Since the QR code stores your data, you can fit more on one tag or ID, which can help with choosing a less obtrusive Smart ID or tag. Also, with Smart IDs your data can be updated without purchasing a new physical medical ID.
MedicAlert ICE Tags come in a set of four durable vinyl stickers that adhere securely to any hard surface – think cellphone cases, mobility aids – typical objects that travel with you. Each set of four tags has a unique QR code for one person, so they can be attached to multiple objects. Additional users would need their own individual set of sticker tags.
The portability and scope of personal medical information they provide make Smart IDs a great alternative to traditional jewelry and wearable IDs, not just in emergency situations, but also for doctor visits, home healthcare providers, or for access by other caregivers. Because they are digitally linked to your MedicAlert full profile, your information is automatically updated with any changes to your profile.
Apple Watches have become popular among all age groups. They are such an easily-accessible resource for all kinds of information, MedicAlert developed an ID specifically for Apple Watches. Although they are considered wearable, these attachable tags slide onto the silicone band of an Apple Watch, so they don’t require the addition of an entirely new piece of jewelry. The engravable tags are rust-proof, water-proof and made of stainless steel. They are available in multiple colors and several size options for compatibility with different sizes of Apple Watches.
Medical ID necklaces can range from utilitarian to fashion-forward, with several style options for children, women, and men. Like bracelets, necklaces can be made from a number of different materials or combinations of materials, such as stainless steel, sterling silver, gold, or platinum. MedicAlert necklaces come in a variety of chain and emblem styles, and also offer different color options for the engraving.
These types of medical IDs can be perfect for individuals for whom any wearable ID is not a good option, such as those with strength limitations or cognitive issues. MedicAlert Shoe Tags are engravable and available in two different designs for easy and secure attachment to lace-up and other types of shoes.
If digital tech is too high-tech for the user, MedicAlert Fillable Wallet Cards are the manual alternative. Personal medical information and MedicAlert ID numbers are written by the owner or caregiver into the foldable card and must be physically updated when information changes. Like Smart ID cards, Fillable Wallet Cards are credit card-sized for portability, but unlike Smart IDs, the information is not digitally linked to a health profile.
How does MedicAlert work ?
During an
Emergency
Emergency
MedicAlert
Protects You 24/7
Protects You 24/7
By Relaying Your
Health Information
Health Information
To Ensure Fast
Accurate Treatment
Accurate Treatment
