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What to Engrave on a Child's Medical Bracelet

If your child has a condition, allergy or other medical directive that emergency personnel need to know about, what you engrave on the medical bracelet can be life-saving. It needs to be concise and accurate. Reduce any unnecessary words or explanations and use as few characters as possible. The engraving must have only the most vital information to alert medics and doctors before they administer emergency treatment when your child cannot speak for himself.

  1. Diagnosis or Condition

    • Engrave onto the bracelet your child's most critical data, such as a long-term diagnosis or condition. Consider asthma, autoimmune disease, bipolar disorder, cancer, depression, diabetes, seizure disorder and other childhood conditions that are applicable. These diagnoses and conditions will determine how EMT's and medics will approach your child's immediate situation should he be unable to speak for himself. Ask the medical company or your doctor for internationally recognized or accepted abbreviations. For example, an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome abbreviates AIDS and an insulin dependent diabetic is IDD.

    Allergies

    • List any drug, food, insect or medication related allergies for engraving on the bracelet. This allows a rapid response if your child experiences a reaction. Clarify with the medical company the distinction between your child's medicines and his allergies. Engrave "allergic to" before the actual allergies. Allergies many include antibiotics, such as penicillin, latex, nuts, dye, milk, soy, among countless others. If your child must carry epinephrine, have Epi or EpiPen engraved.

    Special Needs

    • Alert medics of your child's special needs by engraving autism, ADHD, vision or hearing impaired, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and sensory disorders. For these needs, have your child's first name engraved on the bracelet front so that medics know if your child is able to respond when his name is called. Critical information on the bracelet helps determine whether symptoms are accident or ailment related vs. an existing condition.

    Medications

    • Speak with the doctor for the best wording for your child's medication(s). Before the prescription wording have "meds" engraved. For example, take into account anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, insulin and atypical antipsychotic medications such as Risperidone or Seroquel. This vital listing provides medics assistance in how to initiate emergency treatment and to lessen the chance of a dangerous drug interaction or reaction.

    General Bracelet Information

    • The selected medical alert company must adhere to the "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act." This act protects children younger than 13 by preventing the distribution of any personal information about your child without parental consent.

      Discuss with your practitioner or specialist and the medical company the most crucial information that needs to be engraved. Other vital information about your child can be added into a personal file with the medical company, along with a membership number. When a medic contacts the company, all other essential information will be communicated.

      Order two medical bracelets for your child, one as a back-up. It is inevitable that she will lose or break it at some point.

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