<p>One of our kids needs to start wearing a medical alert bracelet due to an allergy. She’s very active in sports, so she wants one that will be comfortable. There looks to be quite a few styles available & I’d appreciate recommendations if any of you have gone through choosing one.</p>
<p>American Medical makes a bracelet similar to those rubber "Live strong"yellow bands that are all the rage, usually for different fund-raising efforts. It’s available online in many colors.</p>
<p>[Medical</a> ID Alert Bracelets and Necklaces. American Medical ID.](<a href=“http://www.americanmedical-id.com/marketplace/category.php?sel_pullid=286&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=product-feed&gclid=CMr6rcLotLcCFTBo7Aody2kAhw]Medical”>http://www.americanmedical-id.com/marketplace/category.php?sel_pullid=286&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=product-feed&gclid=CMr6rcLotLcCFTBo7Aody2kAhw)</p>
<p>You can buy all eight color bands for $5 for all eight (after you buy the engraved plate)</p>
<p>I think one of these Road ID bracelets would work. They are designed for athletes and you can put any info you want on them. (even your phone number)</p>
<p>[Road</a> ID® Products: the Wrist ID Sport, Supernova, Accessories, Apparel Cycling & Gift Cards](<a href=“http://www.roadid.com/Common/Products.aspx]Road”>ROAD iD Bracelets: Wrist IDs, Pet IDs, Shoe IDs | ROAD iD)</p>
<p>Personally, I like the ones that lace into your shoes but do not believe people would look there in case of emergency. I think something worn on the wrist or around the neck is probably best. I got one that I generally have not been wearing at all that is a chain link bracelet that I had engraved with conditions I have plus “see wallet card,” and contact info for my internist. I’d probably opt for one like a stretch watchband so it wouldn’t absorb sweat. The ones that are silicon are OK, but I don’t like things that are loose around my wrists. Good luck! The pediatrician or coach may have suggestions as well.</p>
<p>I had actually looked at all of those and more.</p>
<p>The Road ID is one that we were looking at getting because it wouldn’t be loose around her arm. Due to her sport, she can’t have it moving around very much.</p>
<p>My hesitations are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It doesn’t have a red cross or caduceus. She’ll be traveling in Asia this summer. The visual cue might help with medical personnel knowing that there may be a problem. Without it, it might just look like an ID.</p></li>
<li><p>The engraving is all on the front of the bracelet. I’m not so sure that I’d want her name, phone numbers, and medical issue right out there. I’d prefer something with an icon on the front and info on the back.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I was hoping for feedback from parents whose kids are actually using them to see which they prefer.</p>
<p>CO mom, it looks like there are reviews for a number of different medical alert bracelets on Amazon. Thought I’d mention it just in case you haven’t seen them and would be interested.</p>
<p>I’d lean toward something like this [Small</a> Stainless Steel Stretch Band Medical ID Bracelet | MedicAlert Foundation](<a href=“http://www.medicalert.org/products/everybody/small-stainless-steel-stretch-band-medical-id-bracelet]Small”>http://www.medicalert.org/products/everybody/small-stainless-steel-stretch-band-medical-id-bracelet), which is probably one of the most recognized brands and provides good 24 hour 365 service. Good peace of mind, but I’d definitely check with the person who is going to be the wearer to be sure the item will ALWAYS be worn, especially during international travel.</p>
<p>The IDs are on sale now <a href=“http://www.medicalert.org/promo/spring-2013[/url]”>http://www.medicalert.org/promo/spring-2013</a> You do have to buy a plan with them WITH the jewelry, but one year plans are OK.</p>
<p>I have found good ones on etsy</p>
<p>My kid was very young when he had his, but we ended up going with the “real” medic alert bracelet, because of the service behind it. They were able to store all sorts of information – names and phone numbers for emergency contacts, and doctors, and the long list of every medication he took, and to change that information each time it needed to be changed, whether that was adding a new med or adding a local phone number while we on vacation at Grandma’s. It was also very sturdy and impossible for a toddler to get off, which was useful for a little one. I didn’t have to worry about choking. If your kid is old enough to go to Asia alone, you probably aren’t worried that she’ll swallow the bracelet. </p>
<p>In another country, I’d want the symbol to be very visible.</p>
<p>My daughter as well as her cousin that was a competitive gymnast, both wore and continue to wear sterling silver bracelets from [Product</a> Catalog | MedicAlert Foundation](<a href=“Medical ID Bracelets | MedicAlert Foundation”>Medical ID Bracelets | MedicAlert Foundation)</p>
<p>After having the kids and sports bracelet, my daughter wanted hers to look like a real bracelet. She never takes it off, so she sleeps and showers with it on. It has been worth the money and when she was younger she felt like she was wearing a Tiffany’s bracelet!!</p>
<p>I don’t know what sport your daughter participates in, but I would think if a gymnast could wear a bracelet while competing, with the right fit, your daughter should be able to also.</p>
<p>My D refused to wear her regular med ID bracelet after a time. She might accept one of these. Thanks! She is very careful regarding her peanut allergy, but wearing it is always wise. In my humble opinion, anyhow.</p>
<p>My son wears a Medic Alert necklace under his shirt. I’d prefer something on his wrist, since it would be more visible–but he won’t wear a bracelet. Something on the wrist is also more likely to remain there. My son had his necklace ripped off him during a game of Ultimate Frisbee. It was lost in a very muddy field for several days, until someone found it, called Medic Alert to report it found, and my son was contacted by Medic Alert.</p>
<p>I agree that having an ID along with a service like Medic Alert can keep you in the loop, especially while abroad. Should something happen then doctors and family can be alerted and specific medical information is available to medical authorities anywhere.</p>
<p>I just ordered (last week) one of the rubber type bracelets for my S who will be in Samoa for the summer. I wasn’t sure which type would be best— but I finally decided he might actually wear this type of bracelet, while a necklace might be thrown in his luggage and never be worn. I may never know if he actually wears it-- but I feel slightly less worried since he will have something</p>
Bringing this back because I’m looking into one for my son and I don’t see my exact question answered here. Loved the other helpful advice though. 
There are lot of Medic Alert bracelets (the big name company) that come in colors, not just the band but the caduceus & Medic Alert engraving as well. Do EMTs know to look for these now? I’m afraid it might get passed over as a regular bracelet or sports band. He already wears a watch, also in his favorite blue.
I’m used to the standard bracelet my husband’s worn his whole life - silver chain, red engraving. I didn’t even know that MA sold anything else until I checked out their website a few minutes ago.
i just asked my dh, who is in the field and he said they are trained to check both the wrist and the neck, but they are looking for red and white/metal with preferably a medical symbol on it…if it was some other color they WOULD quite probably overlook it (they aren’t going to waste time figuring out if a yellow band says livestrong or peanut allergy!).
I know there are a bunch of cutesy things out there these days, but honestly, stick with tried and true.
@kac425 Thank you and your husband so much! It truly helps.
Thanks–looks like I will be in the market to buy some medical jewelry in the very near future, as soon as we can figure out precisely what I’m allergic to, so we can give the emergency folks a heads up.
Have never needed anything yet, but am not getting younger but am getting more complicated!
Take a look at ID On Me at www.idonme.com Lightweight, the info is inside, comfortable, changeable…this answered all our needs when we needed a bracelet for our teen.
Find out what the process is in your state for athletes to wear something that looks like jewelry. My state lifted the jewelry rule in XC a couple years ago, but it still applies in some sports and athletes do get disqualified.
I would think that there is likely to be a way around this for a medic alert bracelet, but I would definitely want to have worked that out BEFORE an athlete gets called on it during an event.