Browels News

Medical ID Bracelets - Are They Really Necessary? - A Paramedic's View

January 6th, 2017

Are medical ID bracelets necessary? Do they really make a difference during an emergency response? Do people actually wear these things? These are all questions that have been often posed to those in the emergency medical services profession. My professional opinion as a paramedic is that these bracelets / ID tags make a difference. It all comes back to this pivotal question....if you are unconscious as a result of suffering a trauma, stroke, heart attack, or any other condition that could render you incapacitated would you want to be given a medication that could make your condition worse?

As paramedics try to provide the best pre-hospital care we can by giving medications ultimately bringing the emergency department into your home. Furthermore, when it comes to providing care for unconscious people and people who have an altered level of consciousness we look specifically for medical ID bracelets, anklets, and dog tags. These medical ID tags provide us with critical information regarding drug allergies and medical conditions to ensure that you are not given a medication or treatment which could be detrimental to your health.

Investing in medical ID tags could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

Cody Bruce-Smith B.Sc. (Kin), CAT(C), CSCS, PCP

Primary Care Paramedic