When you have allergies, diabetes, or some other type of condition that could affect the care you receive after an incident, it’s essential that the information gets passed on to the right people. However, those incidents are also those that may leave you temporarily unable to speak clearly with others. To make sure you’re prepared for anything, it can be smart to have an engraved medical ID to have on you at all times.

What to Include

Many types of medical ID are limited in size, due to their portable nature. You have to think ahead, and perhaps discuss with a physician, regarding what information you should include. Most people will want to include their full name, medical condition, allergies (and whether they carry epipens), medications currently being taken, and emergency contact information.

If the information, such as the names of the medications, is too long to include on an engraved piece, then you can consider supplementing it with a wallet card. In this case, you can add a note on your ID indicating that the first responder should check your wallet for the card.

Types of Pieces

You can select a piece depending on your preferences. Some people prefer to wear bracelets while others prefer necklaces that can stay tucked out the way under their clothing. Some can be more decorative, with different types of bands and embellishments; many are fairly straightforward in design. Stainless steel is a common choice amongst those who opt for a metallic band. Other material choices include titanium, cloth, leather, nylon, and rubber.

If you don’t want to physically wear your medical information, you can put a tag on your keychain. These types of tags can be made to different sizes to accommodate varying amounts of information. A tag could also be attached to a purse, backpack, or even a shoelace.

You can investigate your options for an engraved medical id. One of the companies that offers services is Universal Medical Data.