I wonder if those of you on the list who wear alert
bracelets or tags could tell me what the wording of your
alert is.

Our sixteen year old son was recently diagnosed with
primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's Disease) and I've
gotten several conflicting suggestions about alert
information.

His endocrinologist indicated he should have a bracelet
that says he has Addison's, with no recommendations about
what to do. When I talked to two separate paramedic units
in the area about what that would mean to them if he were
found unconscious after an auto accident or whatever, they
all sort of scratched their collective heads and said they
wouldn't know what to do. I asked if the alert should
direct that he be given emergency cortisol (we have
purchased injectible cortisol and syringes) but they said
that as a rule, they wouldn't have that on their emergency
vehicles, and if he had the injectible equipment on him,
legally, they wouldn't be able to administer it anyway.

Yikes - I got to wondering why anyone would bother trying
to alert anyone under these circumstances! What do the
rest of you think?

I've done a great deal of self-educating about Addison's to
help our son cope with this, and because I know so much
about it now I've kind of lost touch with the fact that
most people don't know what adrenal insufficienty is, have
never heard of Addison's Disease, and wouldn't know what do
to in an emergency.

This is certainly not a comforting thought.

Thanks in advance for any imput provided.

Debbie Walsh
debwalsh51@...

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