Nearly 136 million patients visit emergency rooms in the United States per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Around 30% of those visits are related to injuries. Nobody plans to get injured or head to the ER, though being prepared for the worst-case scenario by wearing a medical assistance tag can actually save lives. While medical assistance tags can benefit anyone of any sexuality, there are several ways in which LGBTQ+ individuals can benefit specifically as well.
Your Smartphone could save your life
While we’re going to focus on medical assistance tags, it’s also a great idea to point out that your smartphone has its own space for a digitized medical ID card. It’s a great idea to keep this regularly updated with your medical information and any changes to your details so that in the event of an emergency or accident, you’re only a swipe away from safety. Letting others know about any health conditions you have can help make treatment and recovery swifter.
Understanding the importance of medical assistance tags
“A person with a serious medical condition such as diabetes, a drug allergy, or a heart condition should carry information about the condition on a necklace or bracelet or on a card that can be carried in a pocket or wallet so that proper care can be given in an emergency,” states Harvard Health Publishing. In essence, medical assistance tags are used to communicate important medical information like a heart problem, seizures, autism, or allergy on behalf of an individual when they cannot communicate the information themselves.
Medical assistance tags are commonly associated with those used in the military as a form of identification, also known as ‘dog tags.’ While dog tags have roots in the Civil War, they weren’t officially used until 1899. While their purpose was to identify fallen soldiers (or those who were severely injured on the battlefield), it’s important to note that there are different variants of the traditional dog tag. For example, red dog tags (also called red medical warning dog tags) are colored red in order to symbolize that the wearer has an underlying medical condition or that the soldier has an allergy. These red dog tags are helpful in the same way that the regular ones are — if a soldier is injured or has an emergency medical situation, others will be given valuable context on how to best care for that individual.
Like the red medical dog tags used in the military, those for civilian use can simply communicate a health condition or allergy. However, some tags may include more information, such as emergency contact numbers, medications, etc. A medical assistance tag can prove to be instrumental in a medical emergency where an individual loses consciousness or is otherwise unable to speak, as the information on the tag works to notify medical professionals about crucial medical information like conditions or medications. As a result, medical professionals can use the information to their advantage to best treat a patient as well as avoid issues like drug interactions.
How LGBTQ+ individuals can benefit
Anyone with a serious medical condition can benefit from medical assistance tags. However, there are instances in which a medical ID bracelet, necklace, or card can benefit those in LGBTQ+ communities. For example, LGBTQ+ people may be at greater risk for some health problems, thus heightening the benefits of using a medical tag. Regarding those who are transitioning, for example, the University of Rochester Medical Center explains that hormones that are used to achieve masculine or feminine effects carry risks, including heart disease, low or high blood pressure, and stroke, to name just a few. “Sometimes a transgender person buys hormones from a nonmedical provider,” notes the University’s Health Encyclopedia on LGBTQ Health. Whether because of a lack of insurance coverage or another reason, doing this could result in taking the wrong hormone or the wrong dosage, which may increase the chance of serious side effects. With that in mind, listing medications like hormones on a medical assistance tag can be valuable information in the event of a medical emergency.
Medical tags and mental health
In addition to health conditions, medical assistance tags can also be used for mental health conditions. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “LGB adults are more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a mental health condition,” going on to note that transgender individuals “are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a mental health condition.” The MedicAlert Foundation notes that wearing a medical ID for mental health informs others about a mental health condition to help ensure proper care in an emergency, as it’s explained that first responders, law enforcement, or emergency personnel can misinterpret mental health conditions. Whether it’s anxiety awareness, ADHD, depression, bipolar, or schizophrenia, putting a condition on a medical assistance tag can help explain behavior in an emergency situation and even prevent misdiagnosis, in addition to helping others understand how to best take care of you.
Medical assistance tags play a significant role in communicating valuable information to others in an emergency situation. For those in the LGBTQ+ community, using a medical tag can not only convey important health information like an allergy or health condition but can also communicate medications like hormone therapy. By talking to a medical professional, you can determine whether a medical tag is right for you and your situation.
Author: Jackie Edwards
