August is MedicAlert Awareness Month
by Kimberly Horg
Turlock Journal
August 4, 2004

August is MedicAlert® Awareness Month. MedicAlert wants people to learn more about its services that help to save lives in emergency situations.

Medical personnel have very little time to determine a patients needs to begin administering care. The scary fact is that in that type of situation many patients cannot communicate what they need in an emergency so an increased risk of medical errors may occur.

A MedicAlert bracelet provides information that is needed in an emergency. It lists the organization's 24 Hour Emergency Response Center number on the bracelet so that the caller can receive more information on the patient. The emergency response center has emergency contacts, allergies, medication, implanted devices, insurance providers and it contacts the patient's family in an emergency.

"We in EMS are medical detectives, Thomas Brabson, DO at Albert Einstein Medical Center, said in a press release. MedicAlert may give us that clue we need."

Twenty-three state governors and three former presidents, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton have all promoted MedicAlert awareness.

"This is an annual event that we want to get back in full swing," Jenna Brown, MedicAlert Corporate Affairs Administrator said.

A few ways that anyone can promote MedicAlert are to host a MedicAlert Awareness Day. Invite your friends, coworkers or family to talk about how MedicAlert saves lives in emergencies. It has posters and applications that are available to upcoming hosts. If MedicAlert helped to save you or someone you know in an emergency, write a story on it and get the word out. It is also recommended to tell your physician that over 100,000 medical professionals recommend MedicAlert to their patients, it if he or she doesn't have MedicAlert brochures or flyers at their office. Another way is to buy MedicAlert Gift Certificates. To request a gift certificate, call 1-800-432-5378.

Because it is a nonprofit organization, it relies on recommendations and testimonials for enrollment in their services. You can also volunteer as a speaker or distribute MedicAlert literature at health fairs, support groups, senior expos, PTA meetings or places of worship.

MedicAlert is one of the largest nonprofit membership organizations in the world and it is right here in Turlock. It has relayed member's medical information to emergency medical personnel so that they get treatment on a faster and safer level for almost 50 years. For more information please call the MedicAlert Member Service Center at 1-800-ID-ALERT or visit www.medicalert.org.