If I took a nasty spill on my morning walk and suffered broken bones or a head injury, what would the first responders tending to me need to know right away?
For starters, they'd need to know my name, blood type and whether I have any major medical conditions. They'd also want to have several emergency contacts to try, in case the first person didn't answer. Then there are things they'd need to know after I was stabilized: medical plan, primary physician and preferred hospital, for example.
Until recently, I was in denial about all this.
After all, even a senior citizen like me can navigate the Third World sidewalks of Los Angeles, where many stretches are in disrepair and maniac drivers are a near-constant threat.
That's what I thought, anyway, until a few weeks ago.
The spill I took, not serious enough to merit medical attention, produced more confusion and embarrassment than injuries. I only had a few scrapes. A passerby offered to call for help, but I got up, dusted myself off and finished my walk.
Reflecting on the episode, I recalled that a few weeks earlier, I had noticed a friend wearing a black wrist band.
The friend, a doctor, had explained that all her pertinent medical information was electronically stored within the band and had urged me to get one.
Two weeks after my fall, I finally stopped being in denial and ordered one, which I now wear on my right wrist when I go out walking or driving. Here's how the device, called the Epic-id, works.
The Epic-id features an adjustable, hypoallergenic silicone wrist band with a USB connection that can be read by any computer _ Mac or Windows. (First responders are trained to look for medical wrist bands.) The USB end of the band connects to the computers first-responders carry on their vehicles. The other end of the waterproof wrist band can by trimmed down to size.
There are no monthly fees. Your personal information is stored on a tiny flash drive on the wrist band itself. It has no battery. It doesn't connect to the internet, so your information is safe from identity theft. The only thing you have to worry about is losing the band, and you can guard against that by wearing it all the time.
Upon first use, once the USB end of the wrist band is connected to a Windows or Mac computer, you are asked to provide an assortment of information broken into three main categories:
_Personal information: Name, date of birth, address, blood type and emergency contacts. There's also a place to import your photo.
_Medical information: Allergies, immunization history, prescriptions, prior surgeries and hospitalizations. You're also asked about family medical history here.
_Insurance details: Doctors, medical groups, membership numbers and the extent of your medical coverage.
Any of the information can be updated at any time.
The wrist band also comes with a metal tag on which you can list the essentials. The wrist band itself comes in three colors _ black, white and red. Epic-id sells a package of 18 wrist bands for $300. A single one costs $50 with the metal plate.
I certainly hope I can avoid taking a more serious spill. But if it happens, I'll at least be wearing an Epic-id with all my medical information. I won't leave home without it.
