Medical alert jewelry is most effective when it reflects accurate, comprehensive, and easy-to-read medical information that belongs to its wearer. Deciding on what information to engrave can be confusing if you have more than one medical condition, allergy, or medication. Medical ID tags come in different shapes and sizes and can hold different amounts of engraving. Some medical IDs can be engraved on the front and back while others can only be engraved on one side.

Emergency responders are trained to look for a medical ID bracelet because it can help them deliver the immediate and effective treatment that you might need. If you become unconscious and unable to speak, a personalized medical ID bracelet can speak for you through its engraving. 95% of emergency responders check for medical identification around the wrist or the neck. Because of this, it is important for your medical ID engraving to be clearly understood by emergency personnel and to have the pertinent information that responders expect.

As the leading manufacturer of medical alert jewelry, we recommend including the following information on your medical ID:

Your Name

Including your name on your ID gives emergency responders a quick way to identify and address you as they begin treatment. Caregivers should also consider adding their name to the ID of the person they care for.

If space is limited, you can opt to engrave your first name only. Full names are ideal, as it allows for quicker identification and access to medical records, if needed. Some people like to engrave their first name at the front of their medical ID to flaunt their custom engraved jewelry. Others are concerned about privacy and choose to engrave their name on the back of the ID.

Your Medical Conditions

Be sure to include any medical conditions that may affect the type of treatment you need in an emergency. Examples include diabetes, epilepsy, Alzheimer's or dementia, heart conditions, and bleeding disorders. If you must abbreviate your medical condition, it is important to to use abbreviations that are recognized by emergency medical personnel. Here is a list of common medical conditions that require a medical ID:

You should also list restrictions on medical tests, diagnostic tools or procedures like MRI, or the use of contrast dyes. If you are not sure what to include, consult your doctor or a healthcare professional.

Your Allergies to Food, Insect, Metals, Medication, Etc.

It's important to include any allergies that you may have. Examples include food, insect and medication allergies such as an allergy to penicillin. This information provides additional insight for first responders to administer proper care.

• Penicillin Allergy – ALGY: PCN
• Erythromycin Allergy – ALGY: ERY

If you have severe allergies and carry an epinephrine autoinjector, consider engraving this on your medical ID. Here are some abbreviations and recommended engraving to alert responders of life-saving epinephrine (adrenaline) autoinjectors:

Engrave Your Medications:

Any prescribed medications taken on a regular basis should be engraved on your ID. This could prevent drug interaction that increases with the use of multiple medications. Drug-on-drug interactions occur when two or more drugs (prescription and/or OTC) react with each other. It is common to engrave prescription medicine that is taken on a long-term daily basis.

Examples of these are blood thinners, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants.

Your Emergency Contact Information

We strongly recommend adding an ICE (In Case of Emergency) phone number to IDs for children, people with autism or dementia, or a caregiver's contact information. An emergency contact must be someone that responders can call to obtain important medical or support information. It is recommended to choose someone who is likely to be available, reachable, and preferably lives nearby.

Common emergency contacts are parents, relatives, doctors, friends, or neighbors.

We highly recommend that you check and confirm that your ICE contact’s phone number is up to date and that the person you choose to be your emergency contact does not have a plan to change their phone number or relocate anytime soon.

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_abbreviations_for_diseases_and_disorders
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epinephrine_autoinjector
https://www.healthline.com/health/immunosuppressant-drugs#drug-list
https://www.medicinenet.com/corticosteroids-oral/article.htm#what_are_some_examples_of_systemic_(oral_and_injectable)_corticosteroids
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/features/warfarin-new-blood-thinners#1