Vital people keep their MedicAlert information up to date

MEDICALERT SAYS PEOPLE MUST KEEP EMERGENCY HEALTH

INFORMATION UP TO DATE

An emergency medical information provider says it is vital that people keep their MedicAlert information up to date following Christchurch’s major earthquake.

People who wear the MedicAlert identity bracelet should go online to securely update their emergency contact and personal information.

“We are asking people in Christchurch, in particular, to update their emergency health record, but this tragedy is also a reminder to people around the country to do the same,” says Murray Lord, of MedicAlert New Zealand. “When people are most vulnerable, stressed or simply unable to effectively communicate, MedicAlert can help protect and save their life.

“It just takes a few minutes to securely enter the information on a computer to provide important information to health professionals or emergency services that may later need immediate access to identify any significant health condition, allergy/warning, medical implant or device a person has, or any medication they are taking.

“MedicAlert members should also ask their GPs to go through the necessary steps to update their emergency clinical information securely online if they have started taking any new medication or developed any new medical warnings or health conditions.

If anyone needs assistance to either access or securely enter their details into their secure electronic emergency health record, they can call MedicAlert on 0800 840 111.

The website is www.medicalert.co.nz .

Every MedicAlert bracelet is linked to the wearer’s emergency medical information record that is accessible in emergencies both nationwide and internationally 24 hours a day, through the Central Communications Emergency Ambulance Call Centre.

MedicAlert is a not-for-profit charitable organisation with over 135,000 members in New Zealand. More than 18, 000 of these people are in the Canterbury region.

more
The organisation’s international president, Mr Andrew Wigglesworth, has sent this message: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the many residents of New Zealand who are faced with very difficult challenges and have lost loved ones.” Mr Wigglesworth said MedicAlert International will be making a donation to the Christchurch Earthquake Support Fund.

Ends

© Scoop Media