We are aware of the importance of wearing a medical ID every day.  Bill Hageman at the Chicago Tribune explains that not only can medical ID jewelry be life-saving but also fashionable.  Read an excerpt:http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0224-bracelets-20100224,0,2798412.story .

“The notion goes back more than 50 years, when simple bracelets and necklaces noted a wearer’s medical condition, a great idea that can help emergency personnel provide faster treatment. As smart of a product as it was, some people were reluctant to wear such items because they were so pedestrian. 

As 2009 comes to a close, we wanted to take the time to say thank you to all of our loyal customers. We have done quite a bit during the past year and many of our accomplishments were direct results from your ideas and feedback.

Not only have we enhanced the American Medical ID and Universal Medical ID websites but we have also successfully developed and launched several new product lines and accessories with your help.

What to engrave on your medical ID is one of the most commonly asked questions at American Medical ID. While this can be overwhelming, we have put together a list of recommendations and tips for engraving on your medical ID bracelet or necklace.

• We recommend engraving at least your first name on your medical ID. While this is not a requirement, it could help emergency personnel get your attention if you are unconscious or in a diabetic coma.

• Engrave your most important medical conditions first such as diabetes, asthma, seizure disorder or angina that could determine how emergency personnel would treat you should you be unable to speak for yourself.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.