universality of medic alert tags?

tacita

i've finally gotten around to getting one, realizing it's simply foolhardy not to, whether wandering about at home or abroad. just wondering: are these things universally recognized and/or looked for on a patient? i made a judgment that a bracelet is more likely to be seen than a necklace, so went with that. i guess it's either going to be noticed or not, so probably needn't expend any brain cells worrying - the only time it would be relevant is if it's all beyond my control anyway!

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machadinha

Not sure how relevant this is (nor what these tags look like), but this thread a while ago What we learned about allergies in India mentions a company dealing in international allergy translation cards. May be something to look into, I mean they may have something along your lines as well. I guess Bengali (Bangla) would make more sense in your case than Hindi, not sure how commonly understood this is in Sikkim however. Swiftly checking just now it looks like Nepali or possibly Hindi would be preferred there. I suppose a doctor could be expected to read English or Hindi, it's more a matter of getting delivered to that doctor in the first place.

(Interestingly, I read now there is a substantial Marwari population engaged as traders in southern Sikkim; how did this come about? Well, traditionally traders who spread far and wide anyway I guess .)

I guess you're right though -- it will be out of your hands. Ah all the joys and excitement of solo travel... Every little bit helps though, so good call. Maybe it's helpful to other readers to understand you have some special considerations, before this becomes fifteen pages of Noooo you don't need that

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capt_mahajan

No, I wouldn't expect many doctors or hospitals to look for these tags in India, especially in smaller medical centres where (god forbid) you are likely to be taken in any emergency.

But it can't hurt. They would be looking for identification, and a prominent tag would help.

I hope the bracelet looks like it is more than a bracelet, though, else the tag may be missed.

SANJAY_DEL

Medical alert tags are not looked for as a matter of routine. Very few hospitals in India issue them. Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi issues pocket i-d alerts with an ECG tracing. Many identity cards issued by corporates and other employers have basic information such as blood group and contact numbers.
All things considered, its better to have a bracelet tag than none at all.

tacita

the bracelet looks like this:

http://www.medicalidtags.com/

in my case, it says:

deaf
cochlear implant
no MRI
see wallet card

on the reverse, it has my name, an emergency contact name, and US telephone number, identified as such.

better safe than sorry, but i guess if i were at a small facility that doesn't know to look for a tag, it's also not likely they have the equipment to give me an MRI! and if i am so seriously injured that i need an MRI, i guess i'll just have to take the chance that my computer chip will get fritzed.

the reason no metal is allowed into an MRI room is that it can suck it into the machine (a boy died that way when an oxygen tank struck him as it flew into the machine.) i don't know the answer to this, but must find out whether that means an MRI could rip the metal-encased computer chip out of my head! it's implanted in a well drilled into the skull behind and just above the ear - completely invisible. (until...it's...er...SUDDENLY visible as it's flying out of my head!)

i guess these are matters of little consequence in a more rural medical center and if i've suffered some life-threatening injury.

i hoped that if it were known i had a CI, folks might know to look for the outside part, that it might not get left behind. it's insured, of course, but i'd still hate to lose it. also, if someone's trying to find out whether i'm conscious, asking "can you hear me?" isn't going to be the best diagnostic tool!

capt_mahajan

Don't know when and where all you may be travelling but some thoughts:

-English may not be read or spoken at a small facility
-If at all possible, try to keep a local (failing which, an Indian) mobile contact number on you where it may be found. That contact person should be able to at least inform the people that you have a tag, and some basic do's and don'ts, including MRI
- It is possible that even larger facilities may miss the bracelet/tag.
-The term "cochlear implant" may not be understood by a rural facility, if all they understand is very basic English. Depends on if there is a Doctor around.

Finally,
-People travel alone with greater medical issues than yours. But it would be good to have somebody in India you can inform once in a while about your wherabouts.
-Maybe somebody from IM can volunteer to be this Indian contact. It should be safe for you; you don't have to give any personal details except your name, maybe, and some basic medical details, and some family to contact in emergency. And in return, get a mobile phone number from that person.

If you don't have better options, I could do that, depending on when you are travelling, and if I am in India then.

SANJAY_DEL

In India in most emergency cases post trauma, you are more likely to get a plain CT scan,and that too is not available everywhere. MRI is not the investigation of choice is trauma cases and is seldom required. I'm sure u'll be fine and not need to see the inside of a hospital any time soon. Enjoy you're holiday in India.

SANJAY_DEL

At any hospital in India, English is well understood and spoken by doctors and nursing staff.
In fact, we all communicate in English on a professional level and not in other Indian languages.
English is the medium of instruction in all medical colleges in the country.
And all our medical textbooks are in English.

Cochlear implant may sound like a terribly difficult thing for a lay man to understand, but is easily understood by a medical professional.

The likelihood of the scenario imagined by the Op is in itself extremely remote and all she needs is reassurance and proper guidance, not a body-guard.

capt_mahajan

sanjay, don't want to squabble here, but even so, to close this:

-i will show you rural facilities where there is no doctor. hell, i bet i can even find a doctor in delhi who won't understand the term cochlear implant too quickly
-i come from a profession where you allow for emergencies. the fact that this was posted here, plus the bracelet, means it is a matter of concern to the OP.

Nick-H

My guess would be that anywhere that has advanced electronic etc diagnostic equipment is also going to have people that speak English, and have more than a smattering of medical knowledge?

On the positive side of this, stuff like CAT scans, which may be prohibitively expensive (even when free in UK, it is not so easy to come by, as the NHS seem to think they should ration usage of the hugely expensive machines) --- although expensive by indian terms, is very affordable in non-indian terms.

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capt_mahajan

Postitively.

No problem, provided communication is possible.

machadinha

I agree the chances of you winding up in a situation like this are entirely slim, but this is something to enquire about before you leave yes if you're worried about it. I don't know, but I'm afraid this might be a possibility. These magnets are rather, ehm, strong as you know.

I don't see any immediate solution to it; taking up the Capt.'s kind offer above would be one step. Going by instinct and the above advice (and having seen the tag now), I wonder indeed if it would be universally recognized. As for cochlear implants, having heard about them from you for the first time in various remarks, it only recently struck me what this implies when you contextualized it. Now I'm no doctor but I wonder how this would work in rural Bengal or upstate Sikkim where you're going, being unconscious as you seem to fear which would be the only situation in which it might be a concern.

Seeing if you could wear something in a locally understood script in your wallet or similar might really be an idea. Other than that, consulting with the mrs. just now she agrees where there's an MRI they should know what they're doing, which doesn't mean they know what you carry in your head. Anyway and again, better safe than sorry.

cyberhippie

Is a rural hospital like this likely to have a MRI scanner????

machadinha

<cross-posted>

... Discussing some more, we likewise think an MRI scan wouldn't be a first step anyway, more likely echo or X-ray scans or whatever, if available at all. Consult with your own hospital by all means sometime soon to ease your mind.

And I agree Cyber and others, but I appreciate the OP's concerns. It would probably have me worry too.

tacita

thanks to all who took the time to respond to my concerns.

just to keep things in perspective, i realize that people travel with far more serious (i.e., life-threatening) medical conditions, such a penicillin and other allergies, insulin-dependent diabetes, etc. i'm not losing sleep over this and, quite frankly, have the sort of optimistic nature that assumes nothing bad will happen, while at the same time sensibly preparing for as many worst-case scenarios as i can reasonably anticipate. i see no need to leave open any unnecessary vulnerabilities that are easily-enough addressed, or at least to try. all i can do is wear my bracelet and hope it turns out to be entirely superfluous.

it also seemed a good idea to raise the issue of medic alert tags, so prevalent in the US, as the thread might prove helpful to anyone with more serious concerns.

capt, your offer is most kind. if i'm unable to find someone to serve in that capacity, i will gladly accept your generous invitation to use you as an in-country emergency contact should you be in india while i'm there. thank you for that.

i really appreciate the concern that members on this site express for one another, nothwithstanding the (seemingly rare)squabbles and misunderstandings. it's part of what makes IM such a great site.