Turlock's MedicAlert on a Mission to Save Lives

By Jackie Kaczmarek - Turlock Journal
January 16, 2004

From start to finish
Once an order comes in for a MedicAlert emblem, most are engraved and shipped from Turlock within 24 hours. It's up to the member to update their information whenever it changes, Srinivasan said, and bracelets can be sent back for additional information to be added. “Information can only be useful if it's current,” he stressed.

Once the tag has been engraved by laser, it is inspected by hand, packaged and shipped. According to Tammy Johnson, fulfillment manager, approximately 150,000 emblems a year are made at the Turlock headquarters. They can vary from a basic bracelet, to a pendant, ID bracelets for kids, or even 14-karat gold, hand-customized bracelets. There are even hypoallergenic emblems for those who are allergic to the metal.

“It's the member who's on our minds before we decide what's best for their health and safety,” explained Srinivasan.

But ID bracelets aren't just for the elderly, sick or infirm. To make sure that Turlock-area kids are safe, MedicAlert is offering families the opportunity to obtain free membership for their elementary school-aged children. If registration is received before the end of this month, families will receive a 24-hour lost child identification, family emergency notification, and a medical emergency ID bracelet, in stainless steel or a sports band.

The student memberships are becoming very popular, according to Srinivasan, who said that almost one-third of young applicants have no known medical condition. New colored sports bands for girls and boys, each set with the MedicAlert emblem, are now available. As MedicAlert is a nonprofit organization, it relies on membership fees, grants, fund-raisers and donations to keep the operation afloat. Often testimonials are received from members whose lives have been saved because of their bracelet - and the important medical information readily available at the end of the phone line.

“When you hear stories and get phone calls from people about how it saved their lives, that's what reminds you,” said Cindy Malekos, program development manager in charge of fund-raising and grants. MedicAlert membership is only available by contacting the organization directly, by phone, via mail or their Web site. Stores or other outlets that say they carry MedicAlert emblems are not legitimate, said Srinivasan.

To enroll or for more information, call toll-free (800) 432-5378, address a letter to MedicAlert Foundation International, 2323 Colorado Ave., Turlock, CA 95382, or visit www.medicalert.org.

Managing Editor Jackie Kaczmarek can be reached at 634-9141 or news@turlockjournal.com.