Medic-Alert

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 14

Medic-Alert

Sir,—l was Interested in a television talk on Medic-Alert. It is a society which supplies people in need with identity bracelets which have a number on them which can be quickly checked at the local Medic-Alert branch, where more comprehensive data from their own doctor is kept for just such an emergency. For years I have been trying to track down this elusive, but very necessary, society. I have at last found that there is only one branch of it in New Zealand, and that is in Upper Hutt and I believe snowed under with work from those needing help. Christchurch should get going. This society would be a great and necessary boon to epileptics, diabetics, sufferers from any allergy, especially penicillin or sulpha drugs, and anyone likely to have an attack of any kind such as a heart attack.—Yours, etc., WAKE UP CHRISTCHURCH. July 8, 1966. [Dr. A. C. Sandston, press liaison officer for the Canterbury branch of the British Medical Association, replies: “The Medic-Alert system is not run as a series of local branches, but as a central registry which holds clinical records of all the bracelet wearers. The Lions Club, which runs the pilot scheme in Upper Hutt, would probably be willing to expand the present registry based there if they can be assured that there is sufficient demand

from patients and full co-op-eration from the doctors concerned.”]