What is Medic Alert?
Medic Alert is a non-profit organisation founded in 1956 with the aim of helping people who have potentially life-threatening medical conditions provide critical medical information to emergency services in the event of a medical emergency. The Medic Alert Foundation maintains a database of medical information relating to the user which can be made available to medical staff if there is an emergency. Members of Medic Alert wear a bracelet or necklace tag that is worn at all times, and engraved with a member number, emergency contact, and medical conditions. Members also receive a membership card with more detailed information. These two items will let medical staff know that you have a serious medical condition that may require special treatment.
Medic Alert is based in the United States, but it has been operating in New Zealand since 1962. Since then, it has grown to help thousands of people with a wide range of medical conditions. Medic Alert New Zealand has an advisory board of medical practitioners and specialists from a range of medicinal fields who monitor the database and ensure that all information is recorded correctly.
There are over five hundred medical conditions which might qualify you for Medic Alert membership. Because of the nature of these conditions, emergencies can occur at any time, and complications are likely to occur which may threaten the life of the patient. That is why ambulance and emergency room staff need to know about these conditions straight away, so they can respond to the situation appropriately. Without that information, medical treatment could worsen the situation dramatically, and can even resulting in death in some cases.
Some of the more common medical conditions include:
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Allergies
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Asthma
- Autism
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- Hemophilia
- Hypertension
- Medications taken that may interact with other medications
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Devices or Implants such as artificial heart valves or pacemakers
With any one of the over five hundred medical conditions, it is imperative that medical staff are aware of your condition and any special requirements that entails. If you are unable to speak or communicate with staff, your Medic Alert tag will speak for you, informing medical staff of critical information that could save your life. The database is available for medical staff twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Although Medic Alert does cost money, for those who cannot afford to pay, there are a range of options which can be considered. It is a Medic Alert policy that no one should be refused access to this life-saving service through lack of funds.
