WHY BE IDENTIFIED?

by Karen Mayry

FROM THE EDITOR: Karen Mayry is the energetic President of the National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota. She was the first president of our Diabetes Action Network, when it formed in 1985.

Are you one of those diabetics who wishes not to have others know about it? Many of us have gone through that phase. Some of us change; we realize it is not fair to those around us to not know what might be happening, as we slip into an insulin reaction (low blood sugar) or head toward a coma. However, others—and certainly not just diabetics—carry no identification to alert those around us as to the nature of our difficulty. Of course, we want to be treated in proper manner if we are not able to communicate to others as to our needs. We need to get the message out, especially when we are in trouble.

What about medical ID? I feel that the use of a Medic-Alert necklace/bracelet is necessary to our well being. It is a natural symbol notifying others that we have special needs regarding our health. The Medic-Alert organization keeps an individual's personal medical history on file with a toll-free number to call engraved into the necklace or bracelet. Emergency room doctors, who may have never seen you before you arrive, unconscious, can call this number and access this information. It can help save your life.

I have several items listed on my necklace. They are: blind, diabetic, kidney transplant, taking steroids, my file number and Medic-Alert's phone number (1-800-344-3226; their address is: Medic-Alert, 2323 Colorado Avenue, Turlock, CA 95382). I feel it is vital to have this type of information in one's wallet or purse if not on one's person. If we attend a meeting where others are unaware of our condition, we are not only being unfair to ourselves, but to those around us who wish to help. They will be unable to obtain the best treatment for us, quickly, should we need it. Precious time will be wasted figuring out what happened. Let's help them by making a conscious effort to have with us at all times proper medical information.

ELECTRONIC AIDS

Sometimes there is no one nearby. What can you do if you head into a "low" and nobody is there to intervene? What if you need emergency aid, and you can't get to a phone? What if you don't want to have someone there to "keep an eye on you?" New technology allows you to wear a device, smaller than a pager, and push one button to summon aid if needed, 24 hours a day. Magnavox makes one, the "Personal Emergency Response System," marketed by American Secure Care, of Knoxville, Tennessee; telephone: 1-800-584-4176; website: http://www.magnavox-security.com (NOTE: American Secure Care has an affiliation with Medic-Alert, allowing emergency responders to access vital information even before the ambulance arrives!) Diabetics, seniors, people in wheelchairs, or with special health needs, might find this an option.