Australia MedicAlert® Foundation
Non Profit Organisation
This page is dedicated to information received from members who have written to the Foundation on how the MedicAlert® service has saved their lives, avoided a serious complication or provided peace of mind in an emergency.
We would welcome your story or feedback regarding your experiences where MedicAlert® has played a vital role.
The commitment to our members’ needs is vital and high standards of service continue to be our focus. The effectiveness of the MedicAlert® service depends upon the ability of emergency and healthcare professionals to recognise the MedicAlert® emblem and utlise the 24hr Emergency Response Centre.
“I remember in 1971 my mum telling me that I was going to be getting a very special bracelet which I should never take off as it may save my life.
As a child I often wondered what magical powers it had to keep me alive? 35 years later I know that she was right, this little bracelet has that potential.
If I'm unconscious or cannot communicate for myself the information engraved on my MedicAlert® bracelet could very well save my life by giving Ambulance
Officers or medical staff vital lifesaving information regarding my health condition. It's the easiest and probably cheapest form of life insurance I could ever hope for.
I believe in MedicAlert® so passionately that I never take it off! It is my constant companion day and night, when I'm swimming, exercising, travelling,
or attending casual or formal functions. It never leaves me, after all who knows when I'll need it?
If anyone asks me about my MedicAlert® I see it as an opportunity to spread the word. I urge anyone with a medical condition, allergy ot special needs to join
as soon as possible – it could save your life.”
J. Sperou, SA
“When I am away from my home I wear my MedicAlert® necklet and always carry the card in my wallet. I was interstate for a 40th wedding celebration where we had been out to a dinner and returned home about 9:30pm. About half an hour later I was ill, violently vomiting and shivering uncontrollably. My friends rushed me to a nearby hospital, not knowing what was wrong, where I was examined and then admitted. The nurse in charge noticed my MedicAlert® necklet immediately, spoke to my friends who gave her my card listing my allergies. A doctor was called and I was placed in a ward. According to what I was told later I lapsed into a coma with breathing difficulties. Three days later I was well enough to leave hospital. The doctor I saw told me I was lucky, my MedicAlert® necklet and card had saved my life. I asked him how?, - he told me the procedure was to give penicillin or a similar drug to reduce the fever. My illness was caused by mushrooms. This has now been added to my food allergies. My MedicAlert® protection is well travelled – it never leaves my person. I have been a member of this wonderful organisation for many years and owe my life to its service.”
P. Jeffels, QLD
“I became a member of MedicAlert® some years ago when my health problems became more complex with the added difficulty of mini strokes that could cause confusion. It is a great relief knowing that the MedicAlert® on my wrist will provide information to attending first aid responders. I have no family to provide information but also believe people who do have family members should still wear MedicAlert®, as I have noticed that family members often are unable to provide medical information even if they are available when needed. For me MedicAlert® means peace of mind for which I am very grateful.”
L. Smith, ACT
“Being a member for 27 years has given me great peace of mind regarding my allergies. In 1997 I was involved in a severe car accident and my doctor informed me that I would not be here today had I not been wearing my MedicAlert® bracelet.”
L. Beehag, QLD
“My two and a half year old son Oliver constantly amazes me. I recently got him a MedicAlert® bracelet because he is severely allergic to nuts. He's never worn jewellery before and I feared that he would not want to wear the bracelet. From the minute we opened the envelope that contained his special bracelet he has not taken it off. He proudly tells everyone it says, “never ever give me nuts”! That's not exactly what it says but that conveys the important message. It just goes to show that we should never underestimate that even very young children can understand the importance of their food allergies.”
J. Nicholls, NSW
“MedicAlert® saved my life twice. In 1981 my blood pressure dropped rapidly and the treating doctor nearly gave me the wrong needle, but my MedicAlert® bracelet alerted him to my medication – administering the wrong drug would have been lethal. In 1984 upon waking from a vehicle accident several days later, I was informed that the ambulance officer avoided a similar life threatening situation had it not been again for my MedicAlert® bracelet. I'm not going anywhere without my bracelet.”
M. E. McGlinn, NSW