Where did people place medical tattoos, so they are found.

[Sourdough]

If someone is found unconscious; they are taken to the Emergency Room. Where would ER personnel look for any medical conditions, they might learn of any history of medical issues. Bracelet, tattoo, dog tag, etc.

 

[Haertig]

Bracelet or necklace. But get an"official" one - one that has a caduceus on it (the medical symbol - two snakes wrapped around a pole with wings on top). Plain dog tags may or may not catch medical providers attention. I never looked at anyone's tattoos even once, back when I was a paramedic.

 

[Sourdough]

I am thinking about a tattoo. Just this little would maybe help ER.

AK I.D. #2?2121
Blood = A+

 

[Amish Heart]

I never heard of doing that, but since they'd automatically do an IV on you, I'd put it on your arm.

 

[Sourdough]

I found this........

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=medical tattoo ideas&form=IQFRML&first=1

 

[Mountain trapper]

I've got a few tattoos, but I would never consider putting my medical information in a tattoo. I wouldn't consider wearing dog tags or a bracelet either. I'm willing to take a chance.

 

[Sourdough]

Here is more.......

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...Ru2Yhxb5Y=&form=INLIRS&cw=1177&ch=469&first=1

 

[INresponse]

When I was still with the PD my later years I was primarily assigned to the senior neighborhoods. Many a morning my first call would be for someone who, as I would say, woke up dead. Kind of a harsh term but it was reality and as many folk say they hope to pass in their sleep.
Anyways, many times I saw "Do Not Resuscitate" tattooed on their chest. I think from time to time about getting the DNR message along with "No Advanced Life Support" on my chest. I am not a tattoo kind of guy, but those are what I will get if my health starts declining rapidly or if I ever get "the bad news" from the doctor.

Unless someone was "acting drunk" or having a seizure or similar medical episode we normally did not look for bracelets or dog tags or other such things. The "acting drunk" is a sign some diabetics have when blood sugar levels are out of whack, and if we did not see empty bottles or disheveled clothing or similar we would guess at blood sugar levels. But, if someone was in cardiac arrest or some other sever condition opening the shirt to prepare for the defibrillator would reveal the tattoos.

 

[Weedygarden]

It has been suggested to me that I should wear a medical bracelet because I am B- blood type. I don't even know if they make these or if that is that important?

Bracelet or necklace. But get an"official" one - one that has a caduceus on it (the medical symbol - two snakes wrapped around a pole with wings on top). Plain dog tags may or may not catch medical providers attention. I never looked at anyone's tattoos even once, back when I was a paramedic.

Can you get additional information added, engraved on them? Name and more? It seems that he is concerned about paramedics or other medical personnel having access to his medical history.

 

[Hardcalibres]

Some anecdotes from the military.......

SS troops were all blood typed and then tattooed with that type in their armpit.....the idea being that avoiding marking the appendages was better if some of them were missing when the patient got to the hospital. But that required all their medics to be trained to look in the casualties arm pit. A modern medic will only look into the armpits if they are looking for any extra holes/bleeds.

In the last couple to few decades, some of us have had blood group tattooed onto our arms......and almost all of us had our blood group marked on our armor/plate carriers. Some also marked their blood group on their boots (for when they got separated from their armor......or their arms).

But the problems with all that in a civilian setting is that, I doubt any Emergency Room staff will trust what you have marked by any means on you.....they will get your blood typed as a matter of routine/certainty before they give you whole blood.

 

[Patchouli]

Please delete.

What do you want deleted? A specific post or the whole thread?

 

[Sourdough]

More interesting Information:
https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...0F79845E60A2D48600960F79845E60A2D4&ajaxhist=0

 

[Haertig]

FWIW, no hospital is going to choose a blood type to give you based on a tattoo or a medical bracelet. That is not considered trustworthy enough for use. You are going to be typed and crossmatched in the hospital.

Allergies you have are important, any medications that you take are important, and major medical conditions and past treatments are important (diabetes, transplant recipient, etc.) If you are a DNR, the hospital may or may not honor that if they don't also have your paperwork previously documented and on file.

 

[Cabin Fever]

I suppose you could always get a QR code tattoo. That would contain pages of information.

 

[havasu]

We ran into medical situations daily in the field of law enforcement. We looked for an approved medical bracelet or necklace, nothing more. Tattoos were ignored in the field.

We had out blood types printed on our bullet proof vests, but as Haertig stated, we understood that our blood would be typed or provided universal blood products.

 

[Sourdough]

A lot of replies here indicating this is a pointless effort.

My Alaska I.D. "number" has a lot of current information. It is the same I.D. number as my Alaska Drivers License going back over 56 years.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Heck, I seldom carry my drivers license on me.

 

[Haertig]

My Alaska I.D. "number" has a lot of current information. It is the same I.D. number as my Alaska Drivers License going back over 56 years.

The hospital is not going to have access to the database that contains that information. Even if they did, it's not going to contain information that is relevant to a medical emergency. It may be used after you're gone to find next of kin.

Honestly, I would recommend just keeping a photo ID (drivers license or whatever) in your wallet that you always carry with you. That's the first place they're going to look anyway.

If you have significant medical conditions or allergies, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace.

Skip the tattoo.

 

[INresponse]

But the problems with all that in a civilian setting is that, I doubt any Emergency Room staff will trust what you have marked by any means on you.....they will get your blood typed as a matter of routine/certainty before they give you whole blood.

FWIW, no hospital is going to choose a blood type to give you based on a tattoo or a medical bracelet. That is not considered trustworthy enough for use. You are going to be typed and crossmatched in the hospital.

In an absolute, almost out of blood situation they will use Type O Negative until their tests confirm your actual blood type.

And, as mentioned above no hospital will believe anything but their own tests. Between the arguments of lawyers and insurance companies there is too much liability for them to believe anything else.

Some officers I worked with wrote their blood type on their vest, but the first thing paramedics do is take out their super strong and sharp scissors and cut off all your clothing and boots. That vest with the blood type is left behind when they transport.

 

[Sourdough]

So, you are saying that the many decades of "Medical Bracelet" was a huge scam. I think those Medical Bracelets might have been around for over 50 years. And putting peoples blood type of Driver's License was another huge scam. And that in a massive casualty event, it was just a joke putting victims blood type on their forehead with lipstick or magic marker.

Not the first time I got snookered. I might do it anyway. I never carry a wallet or any identification.

 

[Magus]

Get some dog tags. the surplus store will make a set for 15$
https://www.mydogtag.com/custom-dog...gvXi9rLnRAhf0RD0Kozh9k38m3RIIFfMaAii3EALw_wcB

 

[SLADE]

I am still trying to understand the world ending and expecting to receive quality medical care.

 

[Magus]

No kidding. best to do it now, while we can.

 

[Haertig]

So, you are saying that the many decades of "Medical Bracelet" was a huge scam.

I don't think that's being said at all. Because something has changed over the years, or because soldiers in WWII used to do something that is no longer the best solution today, does not make it "a scam".

Medical bracelets are still very useful today. Having your driver's license number on one is useless. Having your blood type on one is useless. Having allergies, and significant medical conditions and sometimes medications on one IS useful.

Don't conflate things that have been said as "a scam". You asked a question. People with experience treating patients in medical emergencies have given you good answers and advice. You don't appear to like that advice. So ignore it and tattoo away if you want. Don't call it a scam. I doubt anyone with any knowledge told you to tattoo your driver's license number on your body. You must have picked up that idea elsewhere.

I never carry a wallet or any identification.

If your goal is to convey information to people trying to help you in a medical emergency, that is probably your biggest mistake.

 

[Biggkidd]

I should wear a med alert bracelet for my MS and low blood sugar issues, but I don't.

Also I have never liked tattoos but the thought of getting one that signals my blood sugar going low could be a huge help.

Something else is my need for high levels of salt to keep me from having bone bending cramps & spasms. This has been an ongoing problem for over 35 years the medical professionals NEVER figured out. I went to the hospital and over 70 specialists over a 35 year period and they never once suggested salt or the lack of enough salt could be the root cause, which it turned out to be. Call me crazy but the lord saved me that day as I was about to commit the ultimate sin when I heard the word salt in my head. I set down the pistol and picked up the salt shaker and within 90 seconds of eating an hand full of salt the cramps eased then came back more salt same reaction then started the googling. Now I know and eat enough salt I haven't had a serious cramp or spasm since. I also haven't been to a Dr. since. I'll live without at this point until I die or can no longer avoid them in some fashion...

YMMV

 

[Haertig]

I should wear a med alert bracelet for my MS and low blood sugar issues, but I don't.

Also I have never liked tattoos but the thought of getting one that signals my blood sugar going low could be a huge help.

Standard protocol for "unconscious or altered mental state, unknown cause" is a D₅₀W injection (a 50% sugar solution for diabetic emergencies) and Narcan (for opioid overdose). Or at least this was the protocol, back when I was a paramedic. So you should be covered even without a med bracelet. But it's still a good idea to wear one. A tattoo would not help. A tube of glucose paste kept in your pocket would.

FWIW, there are two extremes of diabetic emergency - low blood sugar and high blood sugar. If your problem is high blood sugar you need insulin not D₅₀W, but in ketoacidosis your blood sugar is already so high that a little higher with a D₅₀W injection is not going to make you any worse than you already were.

D₅₀W and Narcan are two things that won't hurt you if you don't need them, but could save your life if you do. Which is why they are (were?) standard protocol on ambulances.

 

[Sourdough]

I am still trying to understand the world ending and expecting to receive quality medical care.

I am just trying to understand how "SAD" it is that some people have advanced reading comprehension problems.

NOTE: There was never any mention of "World Ending". You fabricated that.

 

[Haertig]

I went to the hospital and over 70 specialists over a 35 year period and they never once suggested salt or the lack of enough salt could be the root cause

That is probably because the multiple blood tests they no doubt ordered came back with normal sodium and potassium levels. You may be some kind of salt-craving mutant they'd never encountered before (that is said in jest, not as an insult!)

The doctors, discussing your medical condition: