MedicAlert

If You’ve Got a Life to Live, You Need MedicAlert®

When it comes to living life, there’s a lot to enjoy. However, if you have a health condition, drug or food allergy, or take medication on a regular basis, you may be exposing yourself to undue risk every single day. That’s why there is MedicAlert. The medical information service provided by the Canadian MedicAlert® Foundation helps protect you in the event of medical emergencies so you can live your life to the fullest.

Research shows that one in five Canadians has a medical condition that should be known in a routine medical situation or an emergency. These people could benefit from the protection provided by MedicAlert. For example, it would be important for emergency personnel to know if you have a compromised bowel, especially if surgery has resulted in an ostomy.

Should an emergency occur – anywhere in the world – one call to the MedicAlert® 24-hour Emergency Hotline will immediately provide medical professionals with your complete medical record and history. Along with your medical information, MedicAlert also provides the names and telephone numbers of your doctor and family contacts. All this information is critical in assisting health care professionals in making a diagnosis and beginning appropriate treatment quickly.

The heart of the MedicAlert service is the internationally recognized symbol and custom-engraved information worn as a bracelet or a necklet. Paramedics and other health care professionals are trained to look for MedicAlert® bracelets, read the information engraved on the back, call the 24-hour Emergency Hotline to access the person’s confidential medical record, and begin immediate treatment.

If you have a gastro-intestinal condition, you may be on multiple medications and have a complex medical history. As a MedicAlert member, all your vital medical information is stored in your personalized and confidential member record. You will also be able to access and update your information as often as necessary. Knowing MedicAlert will provide caregivers with accurate information about you, in either emergency or non-critical medical situations, anywhere in the world, will give you the reassurance you need to live your life to the fullest.

There are currently more than one million people across Canada who rely on MedicAlert to protect their lives, every single day. No other body-worn personal medical identification is more respected and trusted, or can offer the personal protection and services of Canadian MedicAlert® Foundation.

With all the media attention lately to living wills, it’s good to know that MedicAlert will record the existence of this information for you as well.

Established in 1961, Canadian MedicAlert® Foundation is a national member-based registered charity. For more information call toll free 1-800-668-1507 or visit the MedicAlert® web site at www.medicalert.ca.

Conditions covered by MedicAlert include: (Please note that this is only a sample of the possible conditions.)

Medical Conditions:

• Adrenal Insufficiency
  
• Addison’s Disease
  
• Alzheimer’s Disease
  
• Anaphylaxis
  
• Aneurysms
  
• Angina
  
• Arrhythmia
  
• Asthma
  
• Bleeding Disorders
  
• Clotting Disorders
  
• Colitis
  
• Congenital Heart, Lung, Kidney Disease
  
• Coronary Bypass
  
• Crohn’s Disease
  
• Diabetes
  
• Epilepsy
  
• Glaucoma
  
• Head Injury
  
• Heart Valve Disease
  
• Hemolytic Anemia
  
• Hemophilia
  
• Hypertension
  
• Hypoglycemia
  
• Hypopituitarism
  
• Hypothyroidism
  
• Laryngectomy
  
• Leukemia
  
• Lymphomas
  
• Malignant Hyperthermia
  
• Migraines
  
• Multiple Sclerosis
  
• Myasthenia Gravis
  
• Myocardial Infarction
  
• Parkinson’s Disease
  
• Renal Failure/Dialysis
  
• Seizure Disorder
  
• Sickle Cell Anemia
  
• Situs Inversus
  
• Sleep Apnea
  
• Stroke

Allergies:

• Chemicals
  
• Drugs
  
• Foods
  
• Insects
  
• Latex

Medications:

• Anticoagulant
  
• Beta Blocker
  
• Chemotherapy
  
• DDAVP
  
• Epinephrine (EpiPen)
  
• Immunosuppressant
  
• Insulin
  
• Lithium
  
• MAOI & RIMA
  
• Steroid Therapy
  
• Streptokinase

Device/Implants:

• Pacemaker
  
• Intraocular Lenses
  
• VP Shunt, Stents, Catheters, Metal Pins, Plates or Clips
  
• Prostheses
  
• Artificial heart valves, hips, knees
  
• Lens Implants

Special Needs/Other:

• Clinical Studies
  
• Contact Lenses
  
• Developmental Challenges
  
• Existence of advance directives or living wills
  
• Hearing/visual/speech impairment
  
• No blood transfusions
  
• No known medical condition
  
• Organ Donor
  
• Ostomy
  
• Scuba Diver

First published in The Inside Tract® Newsletter Issue 148 March/April 2005