OPEN HOUSE - MedicAlert's 48th
The Modesto Bee
March 24, 2004

MedicAlert is inviting the public to an open house Friday to celebrate the organization's 48th anniversary.

The open house at MedicAlert headquarters, 2323 Colorado Ave. , Turlock , is set to run from noon to 4 p.m.

Organizers said tours will give the public a look at MedicAlert's 24-hour emergency call center, and the production of bracelets and pendants worn by members.

The identification tags include brief information on the bearers' chronic medical conditions, such as allergies, of which emergency medical personnel need to be aware. The tags also include the emergency call center number so medical personnel can call to get more complete information.

The late Dr. Marion Collins and his wife, Chrissie, founded Medic Alert in their Turlock home in 1956. They developed the program after having a medical ID bracelet made for their daughter Linda, who suffered a scratch on a camping trip -- and received a medication to which she was allergic.

The Collinses had 200 more bracelets made to pass out at a medical convention. Before long, thousands of requests came in from people wanting the bracelets.