When does your child wear Medic Alert?

My almost 4-year old wears his 24/7. He has done so since he was 11 mo. old.

24/7

My daughter wears hers 24/7. She has worn one since she was 13 months old. She started wearing it on her ankle because the smallest size they had was to big for her wrist. She is on version number 3 and it is now on her wrist.
Cindy

24/7
My pa dd is 10. If she were able to take it off, she would forget to put it back on, or better yet, lose it.
I'd rather it always stay on. It's like another part of her now. She has almost never complained.

Barb,
DS wears his 24/7 too. Every child is different of course, but I think leaving it on makes them get used to it and forget about it. DS rarely mentions it.
Leaving it on worked for dh and his wedding ring (lol), so I did the same with ds. Meg

My DD wears hers 24/7. She got it when she was almost 3, just before starting preschool.
She got used to it very quickly and has never complained. She doesn't notice it as it is always there. I struggled to open the clasp to get it on her, I know I wouldn't be able to get it off easily, even if I wanted to.

Quote:Originally posted by barb1123:
[b]Can I also ask Why for those who are 24/7?
Thanks
Barb[/b]
One less thing to forget when we are leaving the house [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I also feel like an emergency could happen at any time (fire, etc.) so by having him wear it all the time I know that the information is available to EMTs or others.

Quote:Originally posted by 2BusyBoys:
[b] One less thing to forget when we are leaving the house [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I also feel like an emergency could happen at any time (fire, etc.) so by having him wear it all the time I know that the information is available to EMTs or others.
[/b]
What a great point!

24/7. Cannot really plan in advance which day there will be an emergency and tell her to put it on that day, KWIM? Besides they make the clasp intentionally hard to open so that it won`t come off by accident. If you keep opening it and closing it to take it on and off, the clasp is not as secure, so that it can come off on its own.

hmmmm...does he have to be 18 before I can tatoo it on(LOL..I LOVE that idea (edited)!!!)
but for my son, he wears it as soon as he gets up in the morning, and we take it off at night as he gets into the shower. His has a leather braided strap, so I don't want it getting wet. He wears it to school and anytime we leave the house....I do let him take a break at home. He does not wear it 24/7
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Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 (beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig & asthma)
Jake-6 (peanut, all tree nuts, eggs, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-3 1/2 (milk, soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig)
Savannah-1 (milk and egg)

24/7 because otherwise I would forget, plus the clasp is hard. It bothered him for about a day, and now he doesn't mind it at all. When he was three, we would try to put it on him for Sunday School, etc., but would sometimes forget. When he started preschool, that's when he started 24/7. Now he's in kindergarten. He likes it, and it's a great conversation starter with kids and adults. The boys all think the symbol itself is cool.

24/7-I guess I never really thought of him not wearing it. It has been almost 5 years now that he has been wearing it. He never complains about it, it is like a part of him. I always check it though to make sure it is not too tight. He is on his 4th bracelet because of his growth. I make it loose but not too loose. I don't even think he notices it anymore.
I guess just like his epi-belt, it will always be a part of him. Of course, he takes his belt off at home, but when he is in school or goes anywhere outside of the house it is on him.
Jan

24/7. It has been a year. He barely notices it. Better safe than sorry!

24/7. That way we never "forget" and it doesn't become an issue. the first week my ds wore it he complained and wanted it off (he was 4). Now it is just part of who he is and he doesn't even notice it.
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mom to Ari(6) - severe nut allergies, asthma, you name it - and Maya (9), mild excema

my 6 yr old son wears it 24/7 and has since he was diagnosed at 2 -- he has never complained -- i want it to be habit and a part of him -- plus i don't want another thing to have to remember. I also agree with the post about never knowing when there will be an emergency -- plus this way he has it on at home with babysitters, etc.

I agree-- 24/7. DD also has extremely sensitive skin. She seems to have adjusted and it is no longer irritating to her wrist.
If she began having trouble with metals (as I do) however, I would have to find a solution. Preferably one that didn't involve a gold bracelet. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/eek.gif[/img] Though [i]that[/i] would thrill DD no end, I am sure...
Anyway-- I am positive that if you look around, you can find a nickel-free alternative if that is the trouble-- or perhaps even get the surgical stainless coated with a polymer.

barb
my son wears his 24/7 because i think if he is allowed to take it off,i might not be able to get it back on him. hes 3.5 and very stuborn. i think he dosnt relize that he has it on.
erin

barb, my ds has worn his 24/7 since he was 5. He rarely even notices it. He first had the metal, now has the sports band. I want him to be so used to it that he just considers it part of him that will always have to be there.

Both my kids wear theirs 24/7.
Cathy
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Mom to 7 yr old PA/TNA daughter and 4 yr old son who is allergic to eggs.

24/7 for about 3yrs now- the original Medic Alert bracelet. Previous she had another version- wore that for less than 1yr (24/7) before it broke.

24/7
It never occured to me to take it on and off. She's got the metal one and it's quite an ordeal to get it on and off! We even leave it on for her studio pictures. It's a part of her..and other kids comment on her 'pretty silver bracelet' so to her she has special jewelery!
I KNOW I'd forget to put it on when we leave...it's enough for me to remember my purse and keys! LOL And that's a good point about medical emergencies happening anytime. That's the only reason we got the bracelet since she is in our care 99% of the time or more!

24/7 for my dd since she got it at 14 months. She's now 4 1/4. She's asked maybe a handful of times in that whole time if she can take it off. When we say no, she just shrugs and moves on.
If the metal is bothering him, I would look for higher quality metal (no nickel, etc.)
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Lori Jo,
Rose, 7-31-02, PA
Beatrice & Georgia, 8-14-99

DD is now 12 and I echo the 24/7.
She does need to take it off for some sports (as they do not allow any metal jewelery, hair clips, etc...) She was given the option of taking it off and taping it to the coaches clipboard or having it taped to her wrist. Taking it off seemed more pleasent. I did ask if the Velco Medic Alerts would work and they said no - since the tag is still metal.
Edited to add that she does have 2 Laurens Hope bracelets, with Medic Alert tags, that are more fancy. She does wear them for dresser things. They are not supposed to get wet so normally she just wears the regular standard one so she can easily swim and shower.
[This message has been edited by Chicago (edited February 05, 2007).]

ds got his 3 days ago. it is a sports band. we put it on the first day. he figited with it for a little while and hasnt mentioned it since except to show it to one person. he hasnt had a bath (i am embarresed to admit) in 3 days but will tonight and I will probably take it off while he is in there and put it right back on. my dh wears a watch 24/7 and honestly i think that helps. if i let him take it off around the house to play etc.. I will forget it when we leave.
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Lalow
James 5 yrs, NKA
Ben 4 yrs, PA and MA

24/7
DS began wearing it at about 17 months & has never been without it on.
He is now 8+ years old.
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~Eli[b]Z[/b]abeth,
Mother to 2:
DD age 5, NKA, treated as though PA/TNA
DS age 8, PA, possible TNA
(PA diagnosed & ana reaction 1999)
Member here since 2000

Both my boys wear their bracelets 24/7. Not only is it in case something happens to them, but it is in case something happens to us. There are plenty scenarios where I could see that a parent might be incapacitated and a friendly emergency care worker might want to hand them a cookie. Heck, we live in earthquake country too. As much as we think about all the ways our kids could end up hurt, we as caretakers could too and at that point we won't have the opportunity to have them put their bracelet on -- it will already need to be there!!!!

barb
my dd wears hers 24/7 she never takes it off. she has been wearing it since she was three and is now almost ten.. give you an idea how used to it she is that one day she went to take off her jacket and for some reason it got stuck in her sleeve and it went missing(took out a link after that one)she freaked out i mean she became hysterical that no one would know she was allergic..after calming her down and finding it, removing the link for a much more proper fit she has been wearing it ever since. no problems at all.
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I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Two questions for moms that have kids with these bracelets.
1. Did you child have a severe response and that is why you got it?
2. Did you get the actual Medic Alert bracelet that comes with the membership?
I ask this because my 3 (almost 4 year old) hasn't had a severe reaction. I wonder if I'm putting the cart before the horse, as they say, by ordering him bracelet.
That probably sounds like a dumb question. I'm just trying to figure out if I should get him one or if I'm overreacting.

Since the majority of people who die from pa anaphylaxis have never had a severe reaction, I would not even consider that when deciding whether to get dd a bracelet. It is like someone above posted--what if you have a medical emergency? What if you are unconscious, you aren`t suddenly going to be able to run and put the bracelet on your child. I cannot imagine dd not having it on. A few years ago, I ate something and my mouth began to tingle. I went and got two epi juniors and sat next to the phone. I figured if it progressed I would inject myself with two juniors and call 911. Turned out it did not progress and I was fine. (I was tested later and all was negative.) But what if I had had an anaphylactic reaction? I can just see well meaning people trying to calm a small child with food while the paramedics are working on the mother. Better to just get the bracelet. And yes, it is much safer to use the actual Medic Alert, because they keep all the info on your child in their system. They have dd`s meds, all of dd`s doctor`s phone numbers, her medical history, our family member`s phone numbers, etc. And for only $17 per year (in the U.S.). A small price to pay for safety.

KateDe, I didn't get the bracelets as a result of a severe anaphylactic reaction. I got them so that my children's medical information about their allergies would be immediately available to medical personnel, or others, that might need it.
My older son would be characterized as having a severe allergy to PN/TN, while my younger son would be characterized as having a mild allergy to eggs. They both have bracelets. With my younger son, while the risk of him having an anaphylactic reaction is statistically low, there still might arise the necessity that the information would be necessary in treating him. Like I said previously, someone might try to give him a cookie while I'm getting treated in the hospital after a car accident, for lack of a better example. Would he have an anaphylactic reaction to the cookie? Statistically unlikely. Would it be better if he just weren't fed something with eggs -- absolutely.
And, yes, both have the actual Medic Alert bracelets as well as the sportbands. They do however, wear the bracelets 99% of the time (My younger DS needed his sportband recently when he figured out how to get the bracelet off and we couldn't find it for a bit of time).

DD has taken her MedicAlert bracelet off only for her dance recitals. She wears it constantly in case there is an emergency. If she is separated from the adult responsible for her or if this adult is incapacitated and DD is unable to give her medical history, responding personnel will be aware of her condition.

KateDe,
My ds has never had an anaphylactic reaction.
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Lalow
James 5 yrs, NKA
Ben 4 yrs, PA and MA

24/7 here too. My DD has been wearing it for 7 years. It only came off twice...once when it was really hot outside and it looked like it was digging into her wrist and the other time was when I had to change the size of the bracelet.

1. Did you child have a severe response and that is why you got it?
2. Did you get the actual Medic Alert bracelet that comes with the membership?
1) my son has had his neck squeeze on exposure to pistachios, eggs and peanuts(inhaled and consumed). So I thought getting the bracelet would help others remain aware(almost like those t-shirts that say "I am allergic to eggs etc..." )because everytime they see him, they see that medical emblem.
2) I don't have a membership to medicalert...I did not agree with their story posted on the web site about "my daughter had a reaction and they called Medicalert and then 911" that rubbed me the wrong way.
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Chanda(mother of 4)
Sidney-8 (beef and chocolate, grasses, molds, weeds, guinea pig & asthma)
Jake-6 (peanut, all tree nuts, eggs, trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats, dogs, guinea pig & eczema & asthma)
Carson-3 1/2 (milk, soy, egg, beef and pork, cats, dog, guinea pig)
Savannah-1 (milk and egg)

No- did not get the bracelet due to a severe reaction. DD has never had a severe reaction, just 1 hive reaction.
She wears the Medic Alert for 'insurance'.
Yes, the original Medic Alert w/ membership. Bought this after a bracelet from a jewelery store wore out less than 1yr of 24/7 usage.

My son got his when he was about 3. I ordered it after I lost him in a children's museum for about 15 minutes and I was so worried someone might feed him. It is genuine MedicAlert, with a membership renewed yearly.
Even though we now live in Korea, our pediatrician here told us to continue having him wear it. She said doctors here would recognize it.
He's 10 and still wearing the same bracelet--it still fits. He never takes it off.

Ryan's 10 and has worn it 24/7 since he was 4 years old. It's a part of him, like a limb, that should never come off IMO. Has it ever just come off? Yes, and we put it right back on.

My DD has never had a severe reaction. After reading posts here about others' reasons I decided to go for it. My original thought was that if we were ever in an accident or medical emergency, she may be given medication or food that she is allergic to. I also found that since she's never had a severe reactions others easily play down the risk, but with a medic alert they take it seriously.

My dd (4) puts hers on when she puts on her epibelt. She puts that on when she puts on her pants. We won't forget pants so we won't forget the other 2 either. Her wrist was raw with eczema and only got worse with the bracelet, but I wasn't willing to bend on daytime wear so I had to let it go for night. It works for us.
DD has never had a reaction where I used the epi. Knowing what I know now, I might have used it, but those times were before we "knew" she was pa.
DD doesn't wear the medic alert one, but a nice purple sportband one that we love. Our 4th try on finding one we like/is durable.
Patty