I read about this in one of the age-specific forums and wanted to put it out to the general population........

Are your doctors recommending medic alert bracelets for bansters? Does an EMT or Emergency Room doctor need to know about our bands in order to modify emergency medical treatment ?

I have one and wear it everyday... In case of an emergency and I am unable to communicate I would want the doctors to know I have the band...

Some say it's not nessesary but I feel it is so yes I have one...It's on my weight loss charm bracelet.

I was told by the EMT's when I had a minor car accident back in December that we should have a medic alert bracelet. If they need to intubate, it can get hairy if they don't know you are banded. But...when i brought it up to my surgeon, he looked at me kind of dumbfounded. Not sure what he was thinking, but I have procrastinated and STILL don't have it! This will be my reminder though-THANKS!

I have one and wear it everyday... In case of an emergency and I am unable to communicate I would want the doctors to know I have the band...

Some say it's not nessesary but I feel it is so yes I have one...It's on my weight loss charm bracelet.

Weight loss charm bracelet? I am thinking of a couple of possibilities, but can you tell me what is your bracelet like? Sounds like something I might like to do for myself.

My surgeon didn't feel it was necessary and I was comfortable with that.

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I honestly never thought to ask my surgeon, but I do wear one around my ankle. However, if I am honest with myself, I probably got it for me mentally more than for the medical ID part. It is somewhat of a security blanket, or maybe a reminder of my goals. Whatever it is, it makes me feel better to wear it.

rkimron,

your dr probably looked at you like you were crazy because your esophagus branches off, 1) to your stomach 2) to your lungs. when they intubate you... the tube goes to your lungs....has nothing to do with your stomach. just FYI so you can have a little backdrop so you dint say that again!

Actually your Trachea goes to your lungs and your esophogous goes to your stomach so it would have absolutely nothing to do with being intubated- however I could see medical staff concerned about the port if they did not know what it was. Mine can be palpated very easily but not seen yet. if you had to have a nasogastric tube inserted or needed any kind of invasive Gastrointestinal exams there could be a problem. Not a bad idea!!

The main reason for wearing a medical alert band, necklace, or whatever you so choose to wear is to alert medical personnel to the fact that you cannot be blindly intubated with a nasogastric tube as for some with restriction it could potentially puncture a portion of your stomach.

Mountain Mamma, you can go on the internet and find several different companies who offer a wide range of choices for the medical alert id. Some of them are pretty cute from charm bracelets to dog tags....

My motto is better safe than sorry. I want medical personel to know it's there, if for any reason I am unable to communicate.

I asked about it during a CPR class. The teacher was a paramedic. I was told they do not check ankles for medical ID. They'd like to know about the port, it could change placement of the pads for an AED--and also let them know WHAT that lump on the (insert location of port here) is.

I usually wear one. I recently took it off. I have a bracelet and a necklace. I switch off. I suppose I should put it back on. I had the necklace on when I went to urgent care last year. They never even acknowledged it...but I wasn't unable to speak for myself at the time.

Mine does say "No Blind NG" and has my surgeon's name and contact number. I've heard of others that state "No NSAIDS", but I didn't get that put on mine. It concerns me to hear that they do not check ankles because the site I purchased it from specifically sold it for the ankle. You would think it would either be common practice for paramedics to check there, or NOT common practice to sell medical alert jewelry specifically designed to be worn there.

you cannot be blindly intubated with a nasogastric tube as for some with restriction it could potentially puncture a portion of your stomach.

Wow, good info to have. Thanks.

Weight loss charm bracelet? I am thinking of a couple of possibilities, but can you tell me what is your bracelet like? Sounds like something I might like to do for myself.

It's a bracelet that I have I add a charm for every 10lbs lost...it's sterling silver and I have so much fun picking out my charms cant wait to fill it up!!!

It's a bracelet that I have I add a charm for every 10lbs lost...it's sterling silver and I have so much fun picking out my charms cant wait to fill it up!!!

Where did you get your bracelet and charms? I have found some on the web, but they tend to be very expensive. Any websites you could pass along?

Thank you and good luck everyone!!!

Kelley

Mine does say "No Blind NG" and has my surgeon's name and contact number. I've heard of others that state "No NSAIDS", but I didn't get that put on mine. It concerns me to hear that they do not check ankles because the site I purchased it from specifically sold it for the ankle. You would think it would either be common practice for paramedics to check there, or NOT common practice to sell medical alert jewelry specifically designed to be worn there.

That was one paramedic in California, you might make some calls to some ambulance companies and your local fire department to ask...? I have a medical alert watch that has the ID Alert symbol on the front with info engraved on the back. I asked about it in class and was told that they absolutely will NOT remove anything to read the back...also that the symbol was too small for them to quickly spot in an emergency situation. So, 65 bucks down the drain. Blah!