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medicine encyclopedia----Medical identification tag

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Medical identification tag

A medical identification tag is a small emblem or tag worn on a bracelet, neck chain, or on the clothing bearing a message that the wearer has an important medical condition that might require immediate attention. The intention is to alert a physician, emergency department personnel or police of the condition even if the wearer is not conscious enough or old enough to explain. Some people prefer to carry a wallet card with the same information.

A new type of medic identification alert is the USB medical alert tag. This is essentially a USB flash drive that contains an individual's emergency information. Because of the memory on the flash drive these USB medical alert tags are capable of carrying much more information than the conventional medical ID bracelet. Information such as medications, existing conditions, doctors and emergency contacts can all be stored on the USB tags. Emergency personnel can instantly access the information with any available computer.

Medical identification tag : Conditions for use

Typical conditions warranting such a tag are:

Diabetes (Type 1 and 2)
Anaphylactic Allergies (food, drug, insect)
Asthma
adrenal insufficiency
pacemaker or other implantable medical devices
blood thinners such as warfarin
use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drug, which can interact fatally with epinephrine
chronic illness (diabetes, epilepsy, asthma)
disaster evacuation
acute porphyria

In addition to mention of a condition, the tag may have a telephone number that medical personnel can call for more information, such as specific medications and phone number of physician or care-giver.

Such a tag may also be useful as proof of such a condition to law enforcement personnel.

Medical identification tag : Types

There are various types of medical ID available. The most common form of medical ID is jewelry which provides a logo or inscription indicating a particular medical condition. These medical identification tags can be made out of stainless steel (usually classified as 316L and known as surgical stainless steel), sterling silver or gold. If found by emergency personnel the inscription provides an indication of your special medical needs. Tags are available with pre-engraved conditions or can be custom engraved with your specific medical histories.

Another type of medical ID jewelry indicates membership in a medical information organization such as the MedicAlert Foundation. Such medical ID jewelry includes a member identification number and a toll-free number for medical emergency personnel to contact the organization and obtain full information about the wearer's medical conditions, treatment, and history. These organizations maintain a database of medical information on their members and can provide it to medical personnel when requested.

The newest technology allows the user to carry their own information on a USB device that is identified as a medical alert tag. The user can update the information as needed to provide current information to emergency personnel through any computer system.

Another type of medical jewelry is a pendant or wrist strap containing a wireless alert button, also known as a panic button, worn in the home as part of a wireless medical alert system. This type of medical jewelry sends a signal to a dialing console which contacts a medical alarm monitoring service when an emergency occurs.