Wearing simple dime store medical identification jewelry is not enough; it is vital that emergency responders have access to a patient's full health information to understand the proper course of treatment during a medical emergency.
Turlock, CA (PRWEB) May 14, 2014
MedicAlert Foundation is supporting Food Allergy Awareness Week and encourages Americans living with food allergies to be proactive about safeguarding their health. As part of this support, MedicAlert is offering special assistance to support individuals with food allergies in the event of a medical emergency. Food Allergy Awareness Week serves as a national effort to educate the public about food allergies, which can be life-threatening if exposure to a problem food results in anaphylaxis. MedicAlert Foundation can support individuals with food allergies with 24/7 protection through medical IDs and emergency response services. In the event of an emergency, first responders utilize MedicAlert medical IDs to obtain accurate health information about the nature of an individual’s food allergy and any other conditions, ensuring that patient receives proper treatment and care. The 24/7 service and information connected to MedicAlert medical IDs can mean the difference between life and death when a person experiences anaphylaxis and becomes unresponsive or unable to speak for themselves.
“For food allergy sufferers, the only way to stay safe is strict avoidance of problem foods. But no matter how vigilant a person is, accidental exposures do occur,” said Andrew Wigglesworth, CEO of MedicAlert Foundation. “MedicAlert’s goal is to enable persons with food allergies to stay safe and live life to the fullest. We encourage them to carry their medication at all times and to wear medical identification jewelry that will provide crucial support in the event of a medical emergency." He added that: "Wearing simple dime store medical identification jewelry is not enough; it is vital that emergency responders have access to a patient's full health information to understand the proper course of treatment during a medical emergency.”
MedicAlert’s medical IDs and 24/7 Live Emergency Response Service are available to communicate a person’s food allergies and medication needs when they are unable to respond. MedicAlert Foundation connects emergency response and medical personnel with their patient's health information, providing for the best possible treatment. MedicAlert Foundation partners with Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the nation’s leading organization working on behalf of the 15 million Americans who have food allergy, to offer the MyVoice program. MyVoice provides special discounts on MedicAlert medical IDs and services and also supports FARE in fulfilling its mission to advance food allergy research, education, advocacy, and awareness. Learn more about the MyVoice program at http://www.medicalert.org/fare.
About MedicAlert Foundation
Established in 1956, the nonprofit charity MedicAlert Foundation pioneered the use of medical ID products and delivers the most dependable, responsive, and trusted Emergency Identification and Medical Information Network. MedicAlert provides the functionality of an e-health information exchange through an innovative combination of a unique patient identifier linked to a personal health record and a live 24/7 emergency response service. MedicAlert Foundation International medical ID products alert emergency personnel to a member’s primary health conditions, medications or other critical information. In addition to its 24-hour emergency response service, MedicAlert Foundation International also provides family and caregiver notification so that members can be reunited with their loved ones. Visit http://www.medicalert.org for more information.