Athletes and medical conditions
Anyone who has a significant medical condition will tell you a story or two of how they (or someone they know/knew) had an issue with their condition, and couldn't relate that to the EMS/Fire/Police/First Responder that came to their aid. In some cases, the results have been tragic.
Someone at some point created necklaces and bracelets with basic identifying information; "Penicillin Allergy", "Diabetic", "Heart Problems", etc. are all available to purchase at most local drugstores in the U.S. But it was and is for the most common health issues, and not for unusual health problems.
Then in 1956, the MedicAlert Foundation formed, and eventually had custom bracelets available.You could put basic information on it (think up to 30-40 characters total), and there was an 800 number that hospitals and other medical professionals could call to get more information. And it was a great idea. I got one for my daughter when she was an infant, as she had apnea (she would stop breathing), and other medical issues. Hers was the necklace, and we pinned it to her with a diaper pin. I also had one for years, until it came off one day out in the middle of nowhere.
As beautiful and functional as some of their products are, most of their items are, for lack of better words, bulky. And loose. Both the original bracelets/necklaces, and the MedicAlert versions are great for providing some basic information to those rendering emergency medical assistance. I look for them on my patients. And, as I stated, they come off rather easily. It was time for improvement...
Along comes ROAD ID Inc. They came up with a few designs, and began marketing them to the athletic community. These are designed to go on and stay on during exercise; something that caught my eye.Runners, bikers, and others have become their customer base. And they recently sponsored a large bike event, Levi Leipheimer's Granfondo, which I was proud to work as an EMT.
Yesterday, I received a Tweet (a message via Twitter, for those that don't know) telling me that for the next 36 hours, if I ordered a ROAD ID, 100% of the sales go to the Levi Leipheimer's Granfondo charities. I've been thinking about it, since I happen to have a severe bee sting allergy, and don't currently wear a medical bracelet (Bad EMT! I know better.), I'm playing Russian Roulette out there, working event medicine. And a bracelet designed to stay on is just what I need. Yeah, I have an Epi-Pen in my pocket, but I crashed fast the last time I was stung. And I almost lost my life.
So, I decided to order one for myself. This is what it will look like when it arrives:
So, they are taking orders through midnight tonight for the fundraiser. If you want one, go to: http://www.roadid.com/Levi/LeviCharity.aspx. Use promo code: PCLEVI if it doesn't fill it in automatically for you. You can still order one after tonight, it just won't go to this worthwhile cause.
My MedicAlert bracelet is somewhere up in the hills of Toro Park in Salinas. If anyone finds it, let me know...
As beautiful and functional as some of their products are, most of their items are, for lack of better words, bulky. And loose. Both the original bracelets/necklaces, and the MedicAlert versions are great for providing some basic information to those rendering emergency medical assistance. I look for them on my patients. And, as I stated, they come off rather easily. It was time for improvement...
Along comes ROAD ID Inc. They came up with a few designs, and began marketing them to the athletic community. These are designed to go on and stay on during exercise; something that caught my eye.Runners, bikers, and others have become their customer base. And they recently sponsored a large bike event, Levi Leipheimer's Granfondo, which I was proud to work as an EMT.
Yesterday, I received a Tweet (a message via Twitter, for those that don't know) telling me that for the next 36 hours, if I ordered a ROAD ID, 100% of the sales go to the Levi Leipheimer's Granfondo charities. I've been thinking about it, since I happen to have a severe bee sting allergy, and don't currently wear a medical bracelet (Bad EMT! I know better.), I'm playing Russian Roulette out there, working event medicine. And a bracelet designed to stay on is just what I need. Yeah, I have an Epi-Pen in my pocket, but I crashed fast the last time I was stung. And I almost lost my life.
So, I decided to order one for myself. This is what it will look like when it arrives:
So, they are taking orders through midnight tonight for the fundraiser. If you want one, go to: http://www.roadid.com/Levi/LeviCharity.aspx. Use promo code: PCLEVI if it doesn't fill it in automatically for you. You can still order one after tonight, it just won't go to this worthwhile cause.
My MedicAlert bracelet is somewhere up in the hills of Toro Park in Salinas. If anyone finds it, let me know...
