Medical IDs save lives.
According to American Medical ID, 95 percent of medical responders look for some sort of Medical ID in emergencies. Medical IDs are engraved necklaces, bracelets or charms that list important medical information about a patient. Physicians and healthcare organizations worldwide, such as Center for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health, recommend having a medical ID.
Why should I have a medical ID?
Bad things happen. They can happen to anyone at any time.
Say you are unconscious and need immediate medical help. You can't speak for yourself. You can't tell the emergency personnel that you have diabetes, a pacemaker or had a heart attack two years ago and this is probably another one. You can't tell him that you are taking Lipitor, or that you have high blood pressure or ask that he call your spouse for you. But your medical ID can.
Every bit of information about a patient is a puzzle piece, and the more pieces available, the better the picture. Many diseases and injuries have overlapping signs and symptoms. The less time a medical responder has to spend trying to find puzzle pieces, the more time she can spend saving your life.
Who should have a medical ID?
Ideally everyone, but especially people who are taking prescription medications like blood thinners, have allergies, have certain disorders or diseases such as cardiac problems, pulmonary conditions, etc. or special conditions that put them at risk. But even if you don't fall under one of these categories, it's still a great idea to have some sort of medical ID. Again, the more information medical responders have and the faster they get it, the better care they are able to provide.
Guess what, you probably already have one.
If you have an iPhone 4s or above, you have a medical ID. And it's super easy to set up and equally as easy to access in an emergency.
Unlock your phone and find the Health app. It looks like this:
Your Health app has over 75 categories (each with an explanation of what the category is), such as nutrition and vitals, in which you can store, access and share data. Your iPhone can count your number of steps and calculate the distance you traveled while carrying it and enter that data in a calendar for you to access and compare. It can connect with your other health-related apps to gather all your data in one place and show you trends in your exercise or eating habits.
But the thing that this app can do that I am most interested in sharing with you is that it can save your life.
Upon opening the app, you will see four tabs along the bottom of your phone. The tab on the farthest right is labeled, "Medical ID." Here is where you can enter a plethora of important health information: your age, your medical conditions, your allergies, your medications. You can enter emergency contacts so that someone can easily contact them if you are unable. You can list your blood type and whether or not you are an organ donor. You can add personalized notes so that even when you are unable to talk, you are still able to communicate with whoever is helping you.
To make it accessible in an emergency, click "Show When Locked" while editing your medical ID.
To view a medical ID on a locked iPhone, first click the home or power button to wake up the phone. Next, slide your finger across the screen to the right to reveal the passcode screen. Click in the bottom left corner where it says "Emergency," and then click "Medical ID" to view the patient's medical information.
This feature can prevent unnecessary trips to the hospital and keep a minor emergency from becoming a major one. It may even be the difference between living to tell the tale of your emergency, and not.
