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Medi Alert jewellery

Picci

Well-Known Member
Messages
300
Location
Northumberland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
After 37 years I've finally purchased my 1st ever piece of id. I'm over the moon with it! I got it from the ID band company.
 

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Looks very nice and not too simple. You've got yourself a real life saving treasure.
 
I'm quite ashamed to say that I still don't have one...except for one of those rubber bracelet things...but really only use that when I'm away on holiday. I've looked at them a few times but have never found one I like. Yours is nice and simple...and not at all ugly like most of them...but I just know that that little pendant would end up banging on the desk while I'm working and drive me insane.
What prompted you to finally get one after 37 years?
 
I'm getting older now and I just thought it was a sensible thing to do! I've got an 11 year old daughter and we go on holiday in this country and abroad and I often wonder what would happen if I had no id. I'm older and wiser now!
 
It wasn't cheap, £31 for stainless steel, but I do love it! It doesn't look like medi ID, thank goodness! The shipping and engraving was free, I've managed to get my first name on, type 1 diabetic, UK, and my NHS number.
 
Nice things in the ad. I was given an SOS talisman many years ago as a birthday gift. I tried filling it out but the spaces to write in were so small. Then it dawned on me.........I didn't have anything health wise wrong with me. So I gave up and never wore it. But I Could do with one now. Apart from a rubber one I have on my wrist every day.
 
I use the Vital ID Medical Wristband as I need the space on the insert to get all the details needed written in.

Also if you have it on your left wrist it's where medics are most likely to find it when checking for pulse.
 
JohnEGreen said:
I use the Vital ID Medical Wristband as I need the space on the insert to get all the details needed written in.

Also if you have it on your left wrist it's where medics are most likely to find it when checking for pulse.
Click to expand...
I didn't know about wearing it on my left wrist! Thank you for that tip. Why don't they take pulse readings from the right, does anybody know?
 
I think it's just training I don't think there is any real difference as they are both radial arteries that are close to the skin and have bone behind them and at the wrist you can gauge the strength of the pulse also. And being an extremity you don't have to normally remove clothing to check it. So either wrist would do though I have heard the left pulse described as the primary pulse.

Just occurred to me most people are right handed and maybe would have watches or jewellery on their right wrists so the left wrist is more likely to be clear of obstructions.
 
Picci said:
I didn't know about wearing it on my left wrist! Thank you for that tip. Why don't they take pulse readings from the right, does anybody know?
Click to expand...

Hi, it could be because more people are right handed. It doesn't matter which wrist is used.

Take the wrist pulse for an easy way to monitor heart rate.

Arteries run closely under the skin at the wrist and neck, making the pulse particularly easy to find at these points.

Here are the simple steps needed to take a pulse at the wrist (radial pulse):2,3

  1. Turn one of your hands over so it is palm-side up
  2. Use your other hand to place two fingertips gently in the groove on the forearm, down from the fold of the wrist and about an inch along from the base of your thumb
  3. When you have the position right, you should feel the pulsation of your heart beat.

Use whichever arm is easiest - a right arm pulse is being felt in the picture here; left arm in the first picture.
You can also find the pulse on the neck, by placing two fingers in the same way, gently pressing into the soft groove on either side of the windpipe (trachea).

This is the pulse running through one of the carotid arteries - the main arteries that run up the neck to the head from the heart.

Less easy places to find a pulse are:

  • Behind the knees
  • On the inside of an elbow when the arm is outstretched
  • In the groin
  • At the temple on the side of the head
  • On the top or the inner side of the foot.
The video below is presented by a nurse explaining how to take a pulse - this can be followed for your own pulse or for taking someone else's in the same way.

How to record a pulse reading
Once you have found a pulse by following the steps above, hold still and:2,3

  • Use a timepiece or watch with a second hand, or look at a clock with a second hand
  • Over the course of a minute or 30 seconds, count the number of beats felt
  • The number of pulses over a minute is the standard heart rate measurement, which can also be reached by doubling the number of pulses felt over a half minut


Written by Markus MacGill


  • Article last updated on Wed 9 December 2015.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Picci said:
After 37 years I've finally purchased my 1st ever piece of id. I'm over the moon with it! I got it from the ID band company.
Click to expand...

That is a very nice bracelet picci, very stylist. I have a fabric wrist band, from Pimp my pump ( but I am not a pump user) also a necklace, which I got free last year. About 5 years ago, I actually bought a stainless steel bracelet from the pharmacy I worked at, but after an operation, I couldn't find it later on when I got home, not sure what I did with it ( it was an eye op) but I am positive I brought it home.
Like you, years ago, I didn't want to be 'known' as a type 1 diabetic, but some ID is essential for medical reasons, it's puts my teenager more as ease and my self too. I also have ICE on my mobile phone.
 
That's a nice bracelet. I have a silicon bracelet I wear most of the time. But the most useful thing I've found so far for medical id is the health app on my smart phone. When I was in ER last weekend they just used my medical Id on my phone to record everything they needed to know. It helps me because I can't always talk very much. And when I do talk there's no guarantee people can always hear me depending on my voice quality at the time. I had an after hours GP visit me the same day last weekend and she also used my phone. I've had paramedics use my phone too. I posted about it before under heading "medical ID". But I will wear my bracelet to help people know immediately I have diabetes... but for me I have quite a few other things people need to know about if they're going to try and help. I keep the info up-to-date too.
 
@Picci Hi Picci just spent a little time on the link you posted well about half an hour actually. They have some very nice stuff there I particularly like the Pandora style bracelets may get one for my daughter as she has birthday coming up.

I also have the ICE app on my phone but as do not always carry phone or battery can run low do prefer medical jewellery or id bracelets as they are more reliable. So thanks for the link.

John
 
The company is also based very near me in Northumberland! I had not realised this until I saw the address on the packaging! Since getting my bracelet I haven't taken it off, not even for bed! It is comfortable, get size medium, the large will be too big. Good luck x
 
Does anyone know where I can find an medical ID bracelet? I really want one and think it will definitely help - I'm really picky with what I wear
 
abi-tbh said:
Does anyone know where I can find an medical ID bracelet? I really want one and think it will definitely help - I'm really picky with what I wear
Click to expand...

Many places, but I have one from Pimp my pump.
 
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