Excerpted from "A Year of Health Hints"
365 Practical Ways to Feel Better and Live Longer
Heart attacks, car accidents, and other emergencies that leave
you unconscious or in a state of shock make it impossible to
communicate with health professionals. This is why carrying some
sort of medical identification is so important. Three options to
consider:
Medic Alert tags.
These medical tags alert others to the fact that you
have a medical condition that might deserve immediate attention.
The tags are given for such conditions as epilepsy or diabetes.To
obtain one, contact the Medic Alert Foundation International,
2323 Colorado Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380, 1-800-344-3226.
Microfilm ID cards.
Many hospitals give their patients special cards that
contain a small piece of film called microfiche. The film
contains extensive medical history information that you provide
when the card is issued. During an emergency, the card is read
with the use of a microfilm machine.
Nonmedical ID cards.
Medical information can be written on a card that is
provided by a variety of health organizations or one that is
"homemade." Because there is no official record of this
information, health professionals may be reluctant to use some of
it.
Medical ID cards should include the following information.
Name
Address
Phone number
Person to call in
an emergency
Physician's name
and phone number
Blood type
Allergies
Medical conditions
Required
medication
Pharmacy name and
phone number
Poison control
phone number