Does your child have a chronic illness, or do they have specific medical requirements to manage their health condition? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you may want to get medical ID jewellery for your child to wear. In England, it is estimated that around 1.7 million children and young adults have long-term conditions such as asthma and epilepsy. In the event of a symptom flare-up, kids will require immediate medical attention, and that’s where medical ID jewellery can be beneficial.
Wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace can protect a young child or teenager in case of an accident or an emergency. Moreover, it can give you peace of mind, knowing that your loved one is wearing an item that contains potentially life-saving information while they're in school or spending time with friends. Here's everything you need to know about medical ID jewellery, why your child needs it, and how to convince them to wear it at all times.

What is Medical ID Jewellery?
A medical ID bracelet or necklace has a tag that contains information about the wearer's medical condition, medication, blood type, and other pertinent info that is vital to their wellbeing. The tag can be anything from an engraved red coloured dog tag to a QR code medical ID tag. The latter looks more discreet, but it has its drawbacks since you'll need a device to scan the QR code. If your child needs to wear medical ID jewellery, it may be best to let them have one with the classic red dog tag so they can get the necessary treatment right away.

Paramedics and emergency responders will typically check a person's body first to access medical information before giving first aid. This is why it's important to wear a medical ID tag in a highly visible area of the body, such as the wrist or neck. The material used to make the jewellery should be sturdy and rust-proof, and ideally, the tag should have a medical emblem called the Staff of Aesculapius. This symbol is depicted by a snake wrapped around a staff, and it should be engraved on the front of a red dog tag, or stamped on a silver tag using red enamel. Upon seeing this symbol, emergency responders will know that turning over the tag will enable them to get the information that they need to help your child.
Who Needs to Wear a Medical ID Bracelet or Necklace?
Apart from children and teens with asthma or epilepsy, kids who are unable to properly articulate their medical condition, such as those with autism or developmental disabilities, may benefit from wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace. Children with severe allergies should also wear one, as well as those who have seizures, blood disorders, hearing or sight loss, cancer, or a rare disease.
Some children may hesitate to wear a medical ID tag since they may feel that it could set them apart from their peers. Moreover, wearing a highly visible reminder of their medical condition can make them feel anxious, fearing that they may be perceived as being weak or different by their friends. But since it's essential to their safety and health, it's important to convince your child to wear the medical ID jewellery at all times, even if they'll just be at your neighbour's home or are just heading out for a short walk.

Handling Your Child's Aversion to Wearing Medical ID Jewellery
Getting your child to do something that they don't like is always a challenge, but if wearing a medical ID tag can save their life, then you'll need to consider a few strategies to inspire them to wear it. For instance, you can let them pick out their own medical ID jewellery. Allowing them to do so gives them a sense of control, and they're more likely to wear it if they like the style, colour, and material of the ID bracelet or necklace. Most kids don't like the standard medical ID jewellery since they're usually made of metal, but thankfully, there are ones in the market that are made of leather and silicone. There are even some that come with colourful beads woven around the bracelet or necklace, so this can be a fun option if your child or teenager wants something a little more fashionable or hip.

To make sure that they don't forget to wear their medical ID tag, make it a part of their morning routine. For example, while preparing for school, you can remind your child or teenager to wear their medical ID jewellery after brushing their teeth or while getting dressed. Do this a few times until it becomes routine. As an added safety measure, consider having bag tags and wallet cards made that contain the same information engraved on your child's medical ID bracelet or necklace. This can be a big help, especially if your child or teen is prone to losing jewellery and other small items.
Wearing medical ID jewellery can keep your child safe while they're in school and other public places. Make sure to talk to your child about the importance of wearing it, and encourage them to use their medical ID bracelet or necklace everyday for the sake of their health and wellbeing.
GUEST PUBLICATION BY: Alicia Gordon