MEDIA RELEASE – AUGUST 2013

August is Emergency ID Awareness Month
Check Wrist, Neck, Wallet, Phone

“Check Wrist, Neck, Wallet, Phone” – that’s the simple message for anyone involved in an accident, emergency or first aid situation being promoted during Emergency ID Awareness Month this August.

Hundreds of thousands of people with serious medical conditions such as severe allergies, heart disease and dementia wear medical jewellery, carry emergency ID cards and keep vital healthcare information on their smartphones which could potentially save their lives – the key is to ensure people remember to look for it.

Nicole Graham, Director and Founder of Emergency ID Australia, said Emergency ID Awareness Month aims to educate everyone, especially paramedics, first aiders, nurses and doctors to check the wrist, neck, wallet and phone of the person they are caring for.

“As part of Emergency ID Awareness Month, we’ve embarked on a national training initiative to encourage medical personnel to take a few seconds to check if their patients have critical details on them that could greatly improve their ability to provide care,” Mrs Graham said.

“Emergency ID products have undergone major advancements over recent years, with necklaces and bracelets featuring unique identification numbers providing access to on-the-spot health records and personal details via a 24 hour phone service.
“People are also using their phones as potentially lifesaving devices, with applications like the recently launched Emergency ID App allowing them to display their urgent medical information such as medications, allergies and next-of-kin contact details on the phone’s locked screen.”

Tamara Donoghue, who suffered an epileptic seizure on a flight from the United States, said she was lucky she was wearing her Emergency ID and that it was discovered in time.

“I had just got up to move around the cabin and the next thing I knew the flight crew were giving me first aid,” Ms Donoghue said. “They weren’t sure what was wrong with me, but one of them noticed my Emergency ID bracelet which was engraved with my details. They put me on oxygen and had an Ambulance meet the plane at the airport to provide further treatment.

“Wearing my Emergency ID makes me feel safe and gives me peace of mind because it can speak for me when I’m not able to do so and helps people provide me with the care and treatment I need.
“I’m urging everyone to spread the word during Emergency ID Awareness Month – if you know a doctor, nurse or paramedic please ask them to keep a look out for medical jewellery or other forms of emergency ID on patients and you may help save a life.”

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