Medical Alert bracelets

[ScoutTN]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this winter and I am thinking of getting a medical alert bracelet. If you have one, what kind or brand is it and what do you like or dislike about it?

Thanks!

 

[Cosmic Ripple]

RoadID with a red band is my favorite choice. It’s purpose is clear and the product is durable.

Mostly, you will want to steer clear from anything too “pretty” as it could easily get overlooked in an emergency. Up to date and clear information on your phone’s emergency screen is useful and free if you already own a phone. 

[ScoutTN]

51 minutes ago, Cosmic Ripple said:

RoadID with a red band is my favorite choice. It’s purpose is clear and the product is durable.

Mostly, you will want to steer clear from anything too “pretty” as it could easily get overlooked in an emergency. Up to date and clear information on your phone’s emergency screen is useful and free if you already own a phone. 

What or where is my phone's emergency screen? I have a very old iphone.

[kbutton]

We use StickyJ. They work with the Backpack Health app, so we can use a URL to share health information in addition to what is on the bracelet itself (Backpack Health's -featured version is free for individuals with his condition.)  

https://www.stickyj.com/

My son wears a sporty band, but the plate on it is very medical looking (something like this one: https://www.stickyj.com/product/chase-sports-medical-bracelets-for-kids-adults-choose-color-aa9999c). He has extremely thin wrists, so we're limited in what we could choose. The strap was a little scratchy for sensitive skin, so we put moleskin on the back. It fits really well. 

[Cosmic Ripple]

2 hours ago, ScoutTN said:

What or where is my phone's emergency screen? I have a very old iphone.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207021

[ElizabethB]

My brother wears medical dog tags instead, they may have saved his life when he was in a bad car crash that rendered him unconscious.  He didn't want a bracelet.  I know his dog tags worked!  A bracelet is probably better if you don't mind wearing one, though.  

[MeaganS]

Dd11 has one from MyIdentityDoctor on Etsy. We felt like having a service connected to the bracelet was unnecessary and unlikely to be used, so I just wanted a bracelet that wasn't too dressy and would hold up, but also be cute and look like a medical alert bracelet. So far I've been very happy with it (about 6 months of constant wearing and it's still in great shape). We had one from the main popular service (I can't remember what it was called) and it lasted about a year and a half. But with this etsy one I was able to put more info on the back. I'd recommend it. 

Edited April 26, 2020 by MeaganS

[Pen]

Things to consider:

comfort

ease of putting on /taking off ( or how it feels if it’s always on)

easy to understand/ read  — very obvious in Emergency

versus 

too much information too easy for casual strangers to see displayed

 

I have old Medic-alert (registry program) but don’t keep it registered any more (I also rarely wear it anymore).     Probably 25 years old or so.  Hold up fine.  

My favorite had a stretch band (like a stretch metal watchband ... ).   It was easy on off and quite comfortable.  Obvious medical alert symbol showed, but information was on inner side toward my skin, so not everyone I met would be reading.  Before that I had a stainless chain type one with typical red medical logo which was less comfortable and very hard to get on/off. 

Edited April 26, 2020 by Pen

[MeaganS]

8 minutes ago, CuriousMomof3 said:

 

I think it really depends on the complexity of the information.  I don't know enough about Type 2 to know what would need to be on there.  But, if you can fit all the information on the bracelet, then I agree that the service is overkill.  

Yeah. For dd we just need them to know to check her heart for aortic dissection because she is at extreme risk because of her Turners Syndrome. Nothing else is medically helpful for them to know. And that all fits on a bracelet. 

Edited April 26, 2020 by MeaganS