MedicAlert is a metal emblem that identifies its wearer as someone who has a certain medical problem. Such a problem may be a drug allergy, diabetes, heart disease, or some other condition that a doctor should know about before giving medical treatment. For example, people with severe allergies may become seriously ill or die if they take certain drugs. Such people might someday require emergency care while unconscious. If they wear a MedicAlert emblem that identifies their problem, the doctor will not give them the drugs.
The emblems are provided in the form of necklaces or bracelets by the MedicAlert Foundation International, a nonprofit organization. A symbol of the medical profession and the words Medic Alert appear on the front of each emblem. On the reverse side are engraved the name of the individual’s medical problem, his or her membership number in the foundation, and the foundation’s telephone number. The doctor or other medical workers attending the patient in an emergency can call the foundation collect for further information about the patient.
