#my opinion is that heds isn't a high priority to list

[salt-baby]

Medical IDS

I'm about to buy a new medical ID, so I figured I'd share how I get those and what I put on them.

There are some companies which produce custom jewelry-style medical IDs, but I'm a little scared of breaking those and my health changes too often for that to be a practical expense, so I personally buy dog tags. I let people who I spend the most time around know that I'm wearing a medical ID. Almost all paramedics check the wrist, and some will check for a necklace (where I wear mine). I wouldn't recommend wearing a medical ID anywhere else.

The following information is what I put on there:

Full Name - This doesn't necessarily have to be your legal name, but should be the name that your medical chart is attached to.

Medical Conditions - Specifically, this should be conditions which can render you unable to explain yourself, either because your condition can make you unconscious, too disoriented, or create barriers in communication. My conditions include hypoglycemia, allergies, and POTS. Other conditions that fit this criteria might include diabetes, seizure disorders, narcolepsy, some cardiovascular diseases, etc. It may be helpful to include something like mutism or being deaf, if it would make it easier to explain yourself in an emergency. This site provides a good list (although their EDS information better applies to other subtypes, I include hEDS on mine because it's short to write.)

Medications - usually, blood thinners and Epipens. Off the top of my head, I might also recommend immunosuppressants, anything implanted (ports, insulin pumps, CGMs, pacemakers), and any uncommon meds or meds with dangerous drug interactions.

Emergency Contact - This should be someone who lives within an hour of you, and who you talk to frequently enough that they can help fill in the blanks on what you've been up to recently. Ideally, this is someone who can say "they stopped taking their meds a few days ago" or "they've had a headache for two weeks". I would highly recommend discussing what you want this person to do in an emergency with them. You should list full name and number for this person.

Other - you may also choose to list here if you have a DNR. Some people also choose to list an explicit "Call 911". You can also choose to give instructions, like "Meds in Wallet" or "Epipen in Bag", but its unlikely these will be seen in an emergency. Realistically, a medical ID isn't for the paramedics - it's for the emergency room.

feel free to send me an ask if you have questions!