Medical Alert Bracelets and Food Allergies

For life-threatening food allergies, a bracelet or other piece of identification indicating your food allergies could be lifesaving in the event of an anaphylactic emergency. Why? Anaphylaxis has the potential to rapidly develop into shock, dangerously low blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. This sort of product lets EMTs know about your allergies and may help them figure out the cause of an anaphylactic episode should you be unconscious when emergency services arrive on the scene. Knowing about your food allergies -- and knowing what may have caused a sudden reaction -- can help doctors and EMTs treat you, and can give them vital pieces of your medical history when you aren't in a position to provide that information yourself.

Many companies manufacture medical jewelry. MedicAlert is probably the best-known, but there are quite a few others. Some of the larger ones include:

• Medic ID
• American Medical ID (which is associated with providers of Medical IDs for the Canadian and UK markets)
• Fiddledee IDs

In addition to these companies, you can find custom medical ID makers in many local markets and on the Internet. Bracelets, pendants, and watches are among the varieties commonly available.

MedicAlert includes a unique feature: Its jewelry is linked to a call-in service connecting you with your medical history. EMTs or other medical personnel can call the service and provide the ID number on your jewelry, and get pertinent facts from your history in the event of an emergency. If you find this feature appealing, be aware that few (if any) other companies offer a similar service. Whether or not you're looking for a bracelet connected with this type of database, look for jewelry that seems durable and sturdy, keeping in mind that you'll be wearing it everyday.