ohio department of public safety - safety, service, protection

OHIO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Ohio Emergency Medical Services

Melvin House, Executive Director

www.ems.ohio.gov

 

 

A medical ID is jewelry worn to save lives; with medical conditions, drug and food allergies, prescribed medicines and emergency contacts engraved onto the surface of a medical ID bracelet or necklace. The following are reasons people wear a medical ID:

  • Food, Drug or Insect allergies
  • Cardiac problems (angina, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, pacemakers)
  • Pulmonary Conditions(Asthma/COPD)
  • Kidney Failure
  • Diabetes, blood disorders
  • Alzheimer's/Memory Impairment
  • Blood thinners/ Anticoagulants (Coumadin/Warfarin)
  • Emphysema/Breathing disorders
  • Rare diseases
  • Epilepsy/Seizure disorder
  • Hearing, sight or mentally impaired
  • Surgery, transplant and cancer patients
  • Clinical trial participants
  • Special needs children
  • Hypertension
  • Stroke risk
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
  • People taking multiple medicines
  • Anemia
  • Tourette Syndrome

In addition, some order medical IDs engraved with their blood type, online health records and contact information.

Although EMS provider survey results indicate 95% of survey respondents look for a medical ID during emergencies (75% during patient assessment), the Division of EMS has been asked to remind EMS providers to look for medical ID when responding to medical emergencies.