medical alerts

~~Looking for ideas. I'm on the 1st Aid team for camp and got to thinking about folks with medical alerts. They should wear their braceletts at all times, but most don't on the mat. At the dojo, camp, visiting other dojos. If this person is unconscious and goes to the ER how is that information quickly referenced? Will someone just happen to notice an alert item in their clothes in the locker room? I'd like us to feel more confident passing along this info. to hospital personel. Thoughts? Thanks!

Paula Lydon wrote: ~~Looking for ideas. I'm on the 1st Aid team for camp and got to thinking about folks with medical alerts. They should wear their braceletts at all times, but most don't on the mat. I'd like us to feel more confident passing along this info. to hospital personel. Thoughts? Thanks!

Hi Paula

I've done emergency first aid for big events before, and yeah not having the information has made things more challenging, especially with kids. As a 'camp nurse' I had all the pertinent medical information on all the kids who attended and it was my job to inform the counselors of the kids who might need attention.

The aiki-stuff might make it hard to use medic-alert tags, but maybe they could put their bracelets on their belts, or possibly use the buddy system. They could let their buddy know of conditions just in case. I don't know that either of these suggestions are really going to help, just a thought (or two) though.

Paula,

In the movie, "Black Hawk Down," members of Delta Force were shown writing their blood type on duct tape and then sticking it on their boots. How about something like that? It sounds easy and effective.

Charles

Have campers fill out a 3x5 index card with the following:

Name

Address

Emergency Contact

Medical History (i.e. Diabetes, Cardiac)

Allergies (To meds, BEESTINGS, ect)

Dr's name and phone number

Blood type

You cannot plan for every contingency. Have such items as oral glucose (for diabetics) on hand. Also, if someone is allergic to beestings, please be sure they have a beesting kit, and/or "Epi-Pen" that is not past it's expiration date. Be sure you have rapid access to a phone (Be sure your cellular or nextels have a signal) to call 911, and always have a secondary number for the nearest emergency medical unit.

Just some suggestions from medic Joe...

Happy Camping!

It has always struck me as weird that dojo reg forms and seminar reg forms DON'T include medical and emergency contact info. Come to think of it, the one seminar *I* was in charge of first aid, I neglected to put that on the reg forms too--it really would be the best place, assuming the forms are onsite and available to folks in charge.

The registration forms for our Summer Camp does, indeed, have a section included for medical needs and emergency contact information. All of this is available in an online database so it would be pretty trivial to retrieve, print out, and have ready by/at the first aid stations during the Camp.

-- Jun

Um, with regard to blood type. Well I don't know if it is different there, but many of the hospitals I have worked with will completely disregard any information on blood type and cross and type the blood themselves before giving any kind of transfusion. FWIW

The problem with Medic-Alert bracelets/necklaces is of course that being solid; they can cause injury. Perhaps (related to what Charles said) one could employ a soft indicator; perhaps a red cloth wrapped around the wrist or looped into the belt; with the pertinent info jotted down onto it? Red would make it visible and obvious; along with file cards it might be a help.

Dave

IIRC here in the Netherlands bloodtype information is ignored (by law) and hospitals are required to test themselves.

~~Great ideas everyone, thanks!



~~Jun, in regards the database: I know that we have a slot for medical needs, where I listed my asthma, (and I'm probably a ditz) but it never occured by the way it was worded to include my severe allergy to any form of codeine. I need to update myself. If at camp we asked folks to sign a list with medication alerts can that easily be added to the database? Bloodtype I'm not worried (most people don't know theirs anyway) as the ER folks will test for it.

~~Dave, I like the 'soft' alert idea!

Janet Rosen wrote: It has always struck me as weird that dojo reg forms and seminar reg forms DON'T include medical and emergency contact info. Come to think of it, the one seminar *I* was in charge of first aid, I neglected to put that on the reg forms too--it really would be the best place, assuming the forms are onsite and available to folks in charge.

Our registration forms have a section for medical/emergency information....

This information is also to be included in the membership books so for courses or summer school this information should be available.

Having a passport size photo in the membership book helps to identify who the book belongs to.

I think it also makes sense to make sure if people have a medical condition that might need special treatment, that they tell at least two people at the dojo/seminar about it (in case one of the guys is not arround at the time).

We also encourage people to bring astma inhalers or med info bracelets with their shoes to the edge of the mat and tell other people that this belongs to them.

Eva

Well, in a small dojo like ours (around 10-15 peoples), it's just that everybody know each other well enough to know if one need special care. Nothing to say, it also means that you have to tell the others (or at least the sensei) about this...

We have also have the card system but it's rather useless since they are keeped under lock and key in a desk...

For a camp, it's different. But I know of at least one camp that require that you present a medical certificate from a physician certifying that you can train and specify medical problems.

I'm in agreement that hospitals will do their own cross-match for blood type to be absolutely sure, and reduce liability. It's still a dandy idea to have that info on hand.

Joseph