Medical Alert Tattoo

 I still wear mine.  

I have a friend who is a firefighter and he mentioned that emergency personnel don't know to look for a tattoo.  Plus tattoos fade and blur after a period of time.  Would definitely not be my first choice.  

 When I went for my orientation they spoke about getting a medical alert bracelet and also advise that there are people that have gotten a tattoo instead of wearing the bracelet. It was strongly recommened to get a bracelet.

If I was ever in an emergency situation I would want the health professionals to know that I had this surgery or if there was any other issues that I may have in relation to my health such as allergies to medication etc.

What about the medical alert necklace can you wear that instead of a bracelet.

 medics in the field would never do an NG tube 

they would never give you oral meds anything would be injected and we can have injectable NSAIDS

what if your blood sugar bottomed out? you need the sugar  so putting no sugars could actually put your life in danger

i have a card that sits with my health card that says RNY and the location of my surgery.

It really all depends where you are in the province.  Some medics are trained in advanced life skills and can perform some of these and some medics are trained in criticall care (although most P3's are in Toronto).   

 an NG tube is not advanced life skills  its a tube up your nose generally for feeding purpose
the nsaids again are something not given in the field orally any meds given in the field are most likely to be injected becauseof the almost instant affect 
and i already spoke about sugar

the job of the medic is for the most part to transport you..if you are not stable then they treat to make you stable enough for transport 

Check out this site.  They may have a bracelet suitable for you.

https://www.medicalert.ca/en/join/products/

 Thanks Laura I will

I'd really really really reconsider the tattoo idea.

too permanent.

NSAIDS may save your life in an emergency situation, ie, when you're having a stroke. You don't want them to let you die because you may get an ulcer. Regular use of NSAIDS is disallowed, emergency use is ok.

I have to concur with many of the other posters tat ink is way too permanent.  I am a RN and work in critical care.  I truly did not understand the need for medic alerts for RNY.  Medic alert is meant for life threatening conditions.  Something that you may experience and not be able to communicate.  RNY is not life threatening, nor does it impact anything that would happen in an emergency.

Lets look at worst case-someone gives you an NSAID (although how that would happen while you are unconscious I cannot imagine)-One NSAID would do no harm.  If you needed an NG tube in an emergency then it should happen regardless of blind or not.

If you cannot wear the metal a medic alert is made from put it in your purse/wallet/glove box/where ever.  Make sure your family MD is aware as well as those you live with.

I would strongly suggest you wait for 6 months or so before you get a tattoo.  I am curious however knowing the cost of tats how that would be cheaper than a non metal bracelet?

My memory might be bad but the only place i've heard mention of getting a medic alert bracelet is here on OH . I don't remember it in my nutrition class or mentioned by my surgeon.

I doubt a hospital in an emerg. situtation would be looking at tattoos - i mean everyone has them these days, lots of people have some that say something. And what if it is covered up by clothing?