Why Have a Medical ID?

There are many reasons why a medical ID is helpful to have. Paramedics, EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), and other emergency medical staff are all trained to look for medical IDs. Doctors often recommend them to patients with critical medical conditions. Even if you have no extreme medical conditions, there are plenty of ways a medical ID could help you in an unfortunate event.  

Improved Quality of Care 

The information shared with your medical ID can help guide emergency personnel into effective and safer treatments that improve your quality of care. For example, if you have an allergy to a certain medication, and it is listed on your medical ID bracelet, you will not be given the medication. You are also less likely to be misdiagnosed once in a hospital. Having critical health information can help to rule certain diagnoses out. This can drastically change the outcome of a medical event and result in accurate and high-quality treatment.  

Perspective 

Having your medical profile available, especially when you are not able to communicate, gives medical personnel better insight and perspective into what symptoms you are exhibiting. This can help them properly determine the next best steps. For example, a person with diabetes may go into a diabetic coma, which can be fatal if left untreated. By having a medical ID on them, the EMTs can quickly learn that the person has diabetes and respond with the next appropriate measures to ensure the patient is treated correctly. This information can help paramedics determine if symptoms you are experiencing are normal in your daily life, or life-threatening, and respond accordingly.  

Bystander Response 

A medical ID can also be helpful for non-medical personnel who may find you in an emergency event or in distress. They can be practical for many people; for example, a child with a life-threatening allergy, who is going off to summer camp with staff that may not all be aware. An adult with Alzheimer's that has wandered off and gotten lost could also benefit from helpful neighbors being able to access their health conditions. While not all bystanders may understand medical IDs or how they work, having the information available is better than not having anything at all.