August is Medical Alert Awareness Month, making this the perfect time to talk about medical IDs and their role in helping you live your best life with Myasthenia Gravis.
What is a Medical Alert? A medical alert or medical ID is a piece of jewelry with two primary elements:
A medical symbol, which identifies the jewelry as a medical ID, and,
Engraved medical and emergency contact information.
During a 2020 survey of First Responders conducted by Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Jewelry, more than 95% of respondents agreed that medical alert jewelry can help improve patient outcomes in a variety of ways: ● Reduce the time to treatment ● Increase treatment accuracy ● Avoid or reduce number of ER visits and/or hospital admissions ● Limit and/or avoid unnecessary tests ● Reduce overall cost of a medical emergency
Who Needs a Medical ID? The shortest answer here is that just about everyone can benefit from wearing a medical ID. There are two main reasons people wear medical ID jewelry:
You have a condition that may cause a medical emergency, or,
You have a condition that may be triggered or made worse by common emergency medical treatments.
With Myasthenia Gravis, both of the above apply. Additionally, Autoimmune Diseases/Disorders, Chronic Illnesses, and Rare Diseases are all types of conditions that may cause medical emergencies, and Myasthenia Gravis fits into all three categories, making a medical ID an important part of your daily safety plan. What Should I Engrave On My Myasthenia Gravis Medical ID? Medical ID jewelry from Lauren’s Hope is always custom engravable. That is especially important for people with Myasthenia Gravis for two reasons:
Myasthenia Gravis is a rare disease, which means it is harder to find a pre-engraved medical ID option with this condition listed.
Pre-engraved medical IDs are of value, but they only list a single condition. By contrast, a custom-engraved medical ID can provide valuable additional information.
Pre-Engraved MYASTHENIA GRAVIS Custom-Engraved JANE SMITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS ANTIBIOTICS W CAUTION NO LIDOCAINE ALGY: MORPHINE ICE: 555-555-5555
Which Medical ID is Right For Myasthenia Gravis?
The best medical ID for you is the one you want to wear. If you don’t like your medical ID, odds are you won’t be wearing it when you need it. That’s why it’s a great idea to really take your time and choose a medical ID you will feel comfortable (and even enjoy!) wearing daily.
Here are a few other tips for choosing an MG medical alert:
Fashion Forward and Budget Friendly: If you love changing your look regularly, consider an interchangeable medical ID bracelet. These mix and match ID tag and bracelet strand pairings allow you to change out your bracelet by easily moving your tag from one bracelet to the next. This also means that, should you need a new engraving, you can keep your entire bracelet collection and simply purchase a new ID tag.
Dexterity Friendly: The muscle weakness that MG sometimes causes can result in dexterity challenges in the hands. As this can make clasps difficult to use, we recommend looking at our stretch bracelets (most of which are still interchangeable!), magnetic closure styles, clasp-free cuffs, and necklaces (long enough to put on over your head).
Where Can I Get Help Finding a Medical ID?
Lauren’s Hope is happy to support the Myasthenia Gravis Association. We invite you to sign up for a FREE Virtual Visit during which one of our expert Customer Care Associates will answer all of your questions via phone or video conference, show you different jewelry styles, help you measure your wrist properly, assist you with crafting your engraving, and even take your order and provide a helpful discount code.
About the Author:
Tara Fitzer Cohen | Executive Vice President | Lauren’s Hope
Tara Fitzer Cohen is one of the world’s leading experts on medical alert jewelry. An author and public speaker with 10+ years of expertise in the field, Tara’s knowledge, passionate voice, and ability to form authentic connections with her audience make Tara a sought-after guest author, interviewee, podcast guest, and special-event speaker.