Medical Information is Critical in Emergencies - Make Your Health Record Count

It’s not easy living with an illness or living with someone who is ill. It affects everyone’s quality of life and peace of mind. Part of having peace of mind for you and your loved ones is knowing that first responders have immediate access to essential health medical information. This is important and can often mean the difference between life and death.

Giving first responders the quickest possible access to your medical information is especially crucial in today’s era of tight budgets and reduced emergency response services. Public service providers in certain areas are sometimes finding it more and more difficult to maintain staffing levels. This means slower response times, and sometimes a lower level of service.

EMTs Are More And More Pressed

A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald emphasised this point, stating that EMT response time in New South Wales (NSW) is now over eleven minutes, almost two minutes longer than ten years ago, and a full two minutes more than the current average in other states. The article also stated that paramedic staffing in NSW is at its lowest point this decade.

The shortage not only affects response times but also EMT performance. The article states that NSW EMTs are finding themselves working longer shifts, being on-call after clocking out and sometimes working alone after their partner has clocked out. All these factors could affect the quality of service you might receive. In addition to a longer wait time, you might find yourself being treated by an EMT who is tired and overworked.

This makes it even more imperative to have your medical information available immediately to first responders because you may not have the time or the ability to tell the EMT what your situation is in an emergency. Seconds count, and a first responder with immediate access to your information could mean the difference between life and death.

The Benefits of Mediband and Mediband Plus

Mediband bracelets are made of durable silicone and provide crucial information to passers-by and first responders when you or your loved ones are unable to speak for themselves. Medibands not only come premade with warnings about common medical conditions like diabetes and asthma, but they are also fully customisable, alerting first responders to your specific condition, such as allergies or other secondary conditions.

Medibands that contain a person’s name and address are particularly useful for dementia sufferers. Citizens and first responders encountering a dementia patient will find such information goes a long way to establishing an immediate rapport with the patient.

Mediband Plus: Your Medical Information When Seconds Count, When Others Need It

Mediband plus is also pleased to offer the Mediband Plus service. Mediband Plus allows users to store all medical information online. First responders and hospital personnel can access your information via information contained on your Mediband bracelet or ID card.

On Mediband Plus, doctors and nurses will find your personal, medical, and emergency contact information. Examples of data you can store on Mediband Extra include:

• Personal & emergency contacts
• Current medical conditions
• Allergies
• Current medications
• Identifying marks
• Blood type
• Your physician information
• Surgical and implant history
• Your donor wishes

Your records are easily updated and managed, and Mediband Plus also provides emergency emails to your loved ones. Personal details, of course, are encrypted and password protected. The privacy level of your information field can be set to public, hospitals only, or to private.

At any time, you or your loved one could require immediate medical attention. It is more important than ever to put those with life-threatening medical conditions in the best possible position to survive an episode. The peace of mind that comes from knowing you have done this is priceless.