Questions?
Just call and talk to us:
888-633-4298
6am-7pm, Monday-Friday
8am-5pm, Saturday
Pacific Time
The MedicAlert Foundation was founded over 50 years ago and is the only nonprofit emergency medical information service. With over 4 million members, MedicAlert is trusted by emergency responders to relay critical lifesaving information when needed.
A Family Portrait
The MedicAlert Foundation story began in the summer of 1953, in the farming community of Turlock, California. While her parents were away on vacation, Linda Collins, the 14-year-old daughter of Dr. Marion Collins, a physician and surgeon, cut her finger badly enough to require a trip to the local hospital.
Following standard protocol, Linda’s uncle performed a skin test before injecting Linda with a full dose of tetanus antitoxin, which contained horse serum. Within moments, Linda went into anaphylactic shock – a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction. The incident nearly killed her.
“My parents realized that if one tiny drop of the antitoxin had produced that reaction I’d probably be killed by a full dose,” she recalled. “Thereafter, when I went away from home for a weekend or to a neighboring town for school events, they’d attach a note to my coat or make me a paper bracelet describing my allergies.”
Linda came up with the concept of a silver bracelet with “Allergic to Tetanus Antitoxin” engraved on the back. Dr. Collins added “MedicAlert” and the symbol of the medical profession to the front. The design was sent to a local San Francisco jeweler who created the first MedicAlert bracelet.
Family Portrait: centered is Dr. Marion Collins, Michael, Linda, Chrissie Collins and young Tom.
Our Humble Beginnings
After several years of consulting with other professionals, Dr. Collins established MedicAlert Foundation International, a nonprofit, tax-exempt, and charitable organization. Dr. Collins said more than once, “We are not here to make money. We are here to save lives.” He and his family demonstrated that commitment. They invested $30,000 of their own money in the first two years, while contributing countless hours of volunteer time. The “mail room” for the organization in the early years was the family living room.
Spreading Our Mission
National visibility continued to surge during this time as television stations nationwide aired MedicAlert public service announcements. In 1996, Chrissie Collins was awarded the American Medical Association’s highest honor - “The Citation for Distinguished Service.” She and daughter Linda Collins Maurer also appeared on “This Morning” hosted by Paula Zahn on CBS.
MedicAlert Today
Today, MedicAlert continues to provide its services to 2.3 million members in the United States and another 1.7 million members through its affliliates worldwide. Over 5000 emergency calls are answered each year by our dedicated team of trained staff and on-site emergency response specialists.
Timeline
1950s
Linda Collins, daughter of Dr. Marion Collins, pictured at age 14.
1960s
MedicAlert Foundation emerges from a small, local service into a national presence in the emergency medicine field.
1970s
MedicAlert Foundation launched its first computerized automation of member records which provided a ten-fold increase in member record management capacity.
1980s
Celebrating the Foundation’s 25th anniversary, MedicAlert moved into its new headquarters in Turlock, CA.
1990s
MedicAlert Foundation implemented storage of more detailed information for members, including Advanced Directive orders such as Do-Not-Resuscitate, medical device information and more.
2000s
Celebrating over 50 years of saving lives, MedicAlert Foundation continues to provide the same lifesaving services that its founders envisioned.
Today
MedicAlert Foundation continues to enhance its reach by partnering with organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association and the Autism Society of America, providing lifesaving services to those who need it most.
