About this time next week many of you will be making those final tweaks to your costumes, filling your candy bowls and making sure you have plenty of batteries for your flashlight. That’s right…another Halloween night is upon us! While Halloween is all about fun and candy, there are still many important things you need to consider before heading out into the night, especially if your child has a food allergy.

We all know the basic Halloween safety tips but have you ever thought about the extra precautions the parent of a child with a food allergy must consider?

Here is a short list of tips from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) that is sure to help parents protect their children with food allergies during Halloween:

• Be sure your child carries emergency medication, such as an epinephrine auto-injector.
• Before Halloween, distribute safe snacks to neighbors and request that they be handed out to your child.
• Accompany younger children as they trick-or-treat, or be sure they are supervised by a responsible adult who knows how to handle an emergency allergic reaction.
• Remember that small candy bars passed out to trick-or-treaters may have different ingredients than their regular-size counterparts. Even if a certain candy is safe for your child, the ‘fun size’ version might not be.

You can even download a full version of these tips from the AAAAI site by clicking here: http://is.gd/4xRfX

At American Medical ID we know the importance of identifying those with a food allergy so we would also recommend that your child wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace, engraved with the foods your child should avoid, while trick-or-treating. To view some of our products, CLICK HERE.

For even more information about trick-or-treating and keeping your child safe during Halloween, here are a couple of sites we found helpful:

• CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/
• FAAN: http://www.foodallergy.org/media/press_releases/halloween09.html

Carthy Picton

Marketing

American Medical ID

I was an avid watcher of Army Wives when it premiered. Then life got the better of me and I just couldn’t keep up.  Many of my co-workers were much more diligent than I.  So when it was mentioned to me that the topic of diabetes was worked into the latest several episodes, my interest was renewed and I made a concerted effort to tune in.

To summarize, Kim Delaney’s character, Claudia Joy goes in for tests after a bad car accident and is diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  Her doctor discusses the seriousness of diabetes, all the risks involved and proper management through insulin, monitored blood glucose levels and diet. We see her go through a range of emotions until another person with diabetes helps her come to terms with her condition.   

It’s refreshing to see an honest, educational portrayal of the seriousness of diabetes.  In addition, the inclusion of the importance of wearing a medical ID is wonderfully portrayed in episode 14, (Air Date: 09/13/09 chapter 1) when Claudia Joy’s husband takes the initiative to protect her by giving her a beautiful medical ID bracelet. Although Claudia Joy rebuffs the bracelet initially, by the end of the episode (chapter 4) she reconsiders and puts the ID on.

It truly is important to know that besides treating diabetes effectively through proper medical care a successful treatment program should include wearing a medical ID. Great job Lifetime!  (Oh, in case you were wondering… yes, the medical ID is our very own Premier Bracelet.  Nice choice Michael!).

Andrea Rucker
American Medical ID

Did you know that food allergy affects 12 million Americans, or one in 25 people? Did you know there is something you can do to help raise awareness of food allergy and the effect it has on a community?

American Medical ID is doing just that this Saturday morning…rain or shine! We are participating as Bronze Sponsor at our local FAAN: Walk for Food Allergy in Houston, Texas. With a lot of hard work and dedication, we have a team of 41 people that will be walking to support this wonderful organization and cause. Here is a link to the 2009 walk locations. I bet there is one near you in the coming weeks: http://is.gd/39C6n.

If anyone resides in Houston, TX we would love for you to drop by our booth to say hello. If you can’t make it by the booth, you will easily be able to spot us in our company t-shirts we had created especially for this event. Also, stay tuned for pictures and maybe even videos we will take during and after the walk.

For more information about the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, please visit their site at: www.foodallergy.org

Also, please remember that if you or a loved one has a food allergy you should wear a medical ID bracelet or medical ID necklace.

Carthy Picton

American Medical ID

Marketing

It’s that time of year! Our kids are heading back to school and there is so much to do! I am sure many of you are scrambling to get your last minute supplies and new clothes before that first day.

We know it’s easy to get wrapped up in the simple things but there are many important things you can’t overlook before you send your child off. When searching for relevant and interesting information to include in our weekly Health Briefs, we couldn’t help but notice all of the awesome tips we have come across to help us prepare and most importantly, to keep our children safe when they start school.

Here is a quick list of some of the best advice we have found:

- About 3% of kids have food allergies so you should do the following:

· Make a plan and get a letter from your child’s doctor that outlines the allergies

· Meet with the school nurse to develop an Individualized Health Plan (IHP)

- Have your child’s vision screened annually

- Make sure your child’s immunizations are up-to-date

- If your child receives medication on a regular basis for diabetes, asthma or any other chronic condition, make sure your child’s teachers and nurse are aware of your child’s needs

This list goes on and on and we encourage you to take a quick look at the two articles listed below for a more comprehensive list of these important notes:

- The Ultimate Back-to-School Health Checklist by New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital: http://is.gd/2qEkl

- Food Allergies go Back to School Too, by HealthyHouston Kids http://is.gd/2qEle

Please remember that if your child has any allergies or a chronic disorder such as asthma or diabetes, a medical ID will help communicate their needs in an emergency situation while away at school.

Carthy Picton

American Medical ID

Marketing

Did you know that more than 23.6 million people have diabetes? Did you know that by 2025 an estimated 50 million people will be living with diabetes?

These facts are startling and it is for reasons like these that we feel strongly about supporting the hire of a National Diabetes Coordinator. Here is what our very own Rick Russell, President & CEO of American Medical ID, had to say about this issue:

“American Medical ID supports establishment of the office of National Diabetes Coordinator. It would represent an important step toward confirming our commitment to fight the already unacceptable rate of growth in diabetes cases. The sheer numbers of the newly diagnosed dictate the need for greater leadership and coordination as we attempt to respond, as a nation, to what is becoming a national health care crisis.”

What can you do to help? It’s easy! Click here to sign the petition in support of this cause: http://www.ncdp.com/programs/current/petition.aspx#1.

Now you can make a difference and have your voice heard on one of our nation’s leading healthcare problems.

Also, remember that if you have diabetes, wearing a medical ID bracelet or medical ID necklace could help save your life!

Carthy Picton

American Medical ID

Marketing

This is our first blog. Actually, this is my first blog as well. And I hate to admit that the first draft was actually written out on paper. So please forgive me if we break any rules regarding this format. But we have had a voice for a long time, and certainly been a part of the conversation in health care for quite some time. Unfortunately for many, medical IDs have long been “under the radar”…an afterthought…an admission to anyone living with diabetes or heart disease that they live with something that, at times can control them, no matter how in-control they may feel.

Many times patients discover how beneficial a medical ID can be from NOT wearing one. We get far too many calls from people, literally on their way home from the emergency room, asking us how fast we can make their first ID, because they realize how their experience would have been so much better had they been wearing one.

We believe a medical ID should be an extension of you; your personal style. Dare I say, something you are proud of. But more importantly, something that can give you a voice, when you otherwise may not be able to speak. That’s a very simple, yet powerful tool in this age of rising healthcare costs and medical errors. That’s the whole idea behind why this company was started by our founder and CEO, Rick Russell, who still runs the business with the same simplicity, passion and focus.

I’ll stop here…my hand is getting tired. But we look forward to hearing your feedback and contributing on a regular basis. Let us know what you think.

Dirk Van Slyke
Vice President Sales & Marketing
American Medical ID