My ID Square*

Today I am reviewing a medical alert product called My ID Square. 

  

I think that medical alert bracelets and other jewelry are essential for people with complicated medical issues.  I was first interested in such products when I was teaching and worried that if I wasn’t with someone who knew me, I needed something that would, in effect, speak for me if I could not communicate on my own, in a medical crisis or other type of an emergency.

I have tried many types of medical alert jewelry that are available, so I am excited that I am getting to try the My ID Square and adding it to my repertoire.

SquID squares (shown here), which can be attached to bracelets or necklaces, cost $47, which provides a lifetime subscription to the Emergency Medical Profile.  Squid Tags (dog tags) are $44, and also come with a lifetime subscription to the Emergency Medical Profile.     

In the Emergency Medical Profile, you can include date of birth, emergency contacts, allergies, medical devices and problems, medications, medical providers and insurance information, important dates, and any other information you want to include.  

Pros:

+ Made specifically for use as medical alert jewelry.

+ Love the packaging and the QR code concept.

+ The plastic QR part is colorful and probably great for kids.

+ Maintaining the Emergency Medical Profile database is built-in to the price of the ID, so you don’t have to pay a yearly fee for your information to be stored.

Cons:

- Not sure that this ID is great for professional, working adults.

- Has a small charm with a medical alert symbol and has a large one on the back of the part with the QR code, and since this concept might not be familiar to emergency responders, this might be overlooked.

- I am wondering whether all paramedics and medical personnel at hospitals are equipped with smart phones in order to read the QR code or even recognize that that is what it is.  I guess to circumvent this, the back of the ID has a web address and code so that it can be entered on the internet if a QR scanner is not available, but that sort of takes away from the concept.

- I don’t love the interface of the online database.  For example, there is no “boyfriend” option.  Additionally, I think because of this, when I attempted to make my boyfriend the primary contact, the system kept reverting back to my mom in the version that medial providers and first responders can see.  My mom is in Michigan and I’m in New York, so while she is definitely top on my emergency contact list, it doesn’t make sense for her to be the primary since we aren’t in the same state. 

- In order for your emergency contacts to be included, it requires that an e-mail or text message is sent to your contacts so that they can confirm.  I don’t really like this.  Other interfaces allow you to assign emergency contacts without requiring that they are contacted to confirm.  I worry that this could freak out unsuspecting people and they might mistaken it as an actual emergency.    

Overall, I think this concept is great and it’s a really innovative use of technology.  However, with many hospitals and medical providers just getting on the electronic medical records bandwagon, I worry that this might be too new for widespread use.

In other words, I love the concept, but am not so sure about the execution of it.

Thankfully, I have never been in a situation where my medical alert bracelet has been needed.  But I think that that’s really the true test of this product and others like it.  It’s great to have peace of mind on a daily basis by simply wearing a medical alert, but it’s more important to have that product work in an emergency situation.   

For more information, visit http://myidsquare.com/.      

And now through April 22, 2014, if you purchase a SquID, you can use the discount code GettingCloserToMyself15 and receive 15% off your order.

* My ID Square was generous enough to provide me with a SquID for free.  However, it was ultimately my choice to write a review, and has to do solely with my personal opinion of the product.

Road ID Medical Alert Bracelet And IPhone App*

Today I am reviewing both the Road ID bracelet and the Road ID IPhone app. 

Road ID Bracelet

While I have purchased other medical alert bracelets in the past, Road ID bracelets are significantly less money, seem more functional, and are a bit more durable for daily wear than some of the others I have had in the past.  If you’re so inclined you can also get the silicone bracelet in the awareness color of your illness, as they have a variety of colors and styles you can pick from (if that’s your thing). 

The other thing that I really like about the Road ID concept is that if you purchase the interactive version, which I did, you are able to put all of your information online.  This costs $9.99 a year to maintain (the first year is free and if you purchase additional IDs, you get an additional year included), but you can change and update the information all the time, which is especially great if you have frequent medication changes, additional diagnoses, etc.

Information you can put into your interactive profile include personal identification, including vitals and government identification, emergency contacts, allergies, current medications, medical conditions, medical history, insurance information, physician information, address(es), passport information, and miscellaneous information.  

In an emergency, the interactive version comes with a special serial number and pin. There is also a phone number and website.  In an emergency, emergency responders can call or log in with your unique serial number and pin, and have access to all of the information you have saved online.  If you get the original version, you can customize the information engraved on the bracelet – and that’s all you get – no information database.

Road ID App

The great thing about the Road ID app is that you can put your ICE – in case of emergency – contacts into your phone.  You can then save your contacts as the special lock screen that the app provides, which includes your name, location (city and state), and up to three ICE contact names, phone numbers, and relationship, and important medical information. 

This is really handy, especially considering that it occurred to me that while I have my ICE people designated in my contacts, emergency personnel could not get to my contacts because my phone is locked.  That’s why it is so great to have that information set as your lock screen.  Then you can be sure that unless your phone totally dies, in case of an emergency, those contacts will be easily accessible to others. 

 The app also provides something called an e-crumb, in which you can input details about when you are working out so you can notify specific contacts about your whereabouts, and they can track you on a map in real time.  It also has a stationary alert, so if there is no movement detected after a certain amount of time, a message will be sent to any contacts you have listed to be notified.

 

I tried the e-crumb.  It is impressive and quite accurate as far as location.  Personally, however, I don’t think I will really use the e-crumb, but it’s great for people who are active.  I think the lock screen in and of itself is a great thing.  And I guess it sort of depends on what your goal is.  For someone who is really active and wants to be easily identified if something happens while they are running, it’s great.  For someone who is chronically ill, the lock screen is probably more useful than the e-crumb feature.

I am definitely a convert to Road ID products.  While they were really designed with super active people in mind, I think they are great for those of us who want things for everyday that provide us with peace of mind should anything happen to us.

For more information on all road ID products, visit http://www.roadid.com/.

Thanks to Road ID for giving me the opportunity to share their great products with my readers!

* I had already purchased my own Road ID bracelet, but Road ID was generous enough to provide a $35 e-certificate for one lucky reader of my blog.  I also mentioned Road ID in my Some Of My Favorite (Chronically Ill) Things For This Holiday Season  post.  

Some Of My Favorite (Chronically Ill) Things For This Holiday Season

I had intended to post this before the unexpected death of my grandfather, but didn’t get the chance.  So I am posting it now so it is hopefully still timely.

With Chanukah starting the day after Thanksgiving this year, it was a rush to get gifts, and I was short on both time and ideas.

But I did have some time to brainstorm and come up with some great gift ideas for yourself or someone you know who has a chronic illness.  

So here goes:

12. Miamica inner booties (http://miamica.com/Shoe-Stuff/)

This isn’t explicitly chronic illness related, but it is winter related.  I found these inflatable inserts for boots.  They keep your boots shapely.  The thing I like about these, besides the cute design, is that they keep the natural shape of the boot rather than stretch them like some wood or plastic inserts might. 

11. EOS lip balm and hand lotion (http://evolutionofsmooth.com/)

 This also isn’t explicitly chronic illness related, but it is winter related.  I’ve been wanting to try EOS lip balm for awhile because I’ve been intrigued by the circular design.  I’m glad I did.  The lip balm tastes great, is very moisturizing, very easy to use, and comes in a pot that clicks sealed so you don’t have to worry about it coming open in your purse.  I also tried their hand lotion, which has it’s own unique packaging, and it smells great and is lightweight on.   

10. Fingerless gloves (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/index.jsp)

I’ve had a pair of fingerless gloves for awhile, but just rediscovered them recently and they are really handy for cold hands when you are inside, especially working on a computer.  Can help mitigate Raynaud’s a bit.    

9. Oxo Good Grip products (http://www.oxo.com/)

I was pretty sure that OXO was an Arthritis Foundation approved product/company.  I am not sure if that is true anymore, but a key component of their products is that they are based on universal design.  My boyfriend’s dad has this great can opener that is so easy for me to use, and of course, it’s an Oxo.

8. Miamica pill holders (http://miamica.com/Pill-Cases/)

These are super cute.  I have a pink shiny one that says “Take a Chill Pill.”  Unfortunately, they aren’t super arthritis friendly.  They are pretty hard to open, so I don’t use mine that much.  With the strong plastic and the zipper, though, your pills are super secure.  But if you are chronically ill and don’t have problems with your joints, these are great because they are so adorable.  Varieties include the sayings, “My Pills”, “Happy Pills”, “Crazy Pills”, “Happy Hour”, “Chill Pill”, “Love is the Drug”, “Stay Calm”, “Take a Chill Pill”, “Hangover Drugs”, and “Drugs”.  These are also great for people who aren’t chronically ill.

7.  Apple IPad Mini (http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/)

My boyfriend bought me an IPad Mini for getting my PhD.  I didn’t really know I wanted one until I had it.  Honestly, if I could do everything on it and ditch my computer, I totally would.  I can do almost anything on it.  And it is light weight, which makes it great for school and traveling.  The touch screen is super great if you have joint problems, as it’s much easier on your fingers and hands than regular computer keys.

6.  Books by and about the chronically ill

I can never read enough books by and about chronically ill people.  On my list to read over winter break:

“Battle for Grace” by Cynthia Toussaint

“Chronic Resilience” by Danea Horn

“Knocking on Death’s Door” by Katy Butler

“So Young” by Daniel Malito

I am sure there are others I am missing, so if you know of others that are relatively new, let me know.

5. Lauren’s Hope (http://www.laurenshope.com/)

This is an old favorite.  I’ve had several of Lauren’s Hope medical ID bracelets.  I like the fact that these are pretty, and while they don’t look like a traditional medical alert bracelet, they are noticeable enough.  Although I may have found a new favorite – see number 2. 

4. Sarah Gorman’s Pillbags (http://www.pillfold.com/)

This is another old favorite, but since I blogged about these, Sara has created more patterns of both her Pillfold and Pillpouch.  These are great for travel, really handy, and stylish, to boot.     

3. Sabi (http://sabi.com/)

I don’t actually have any of their products, but these pill cases are pretty ingenious.  I especially like the carafe that doubles as a pill case and the streamlined pill cutter and crusher.

2. Road ID (http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx and https://www.myroadid.com/)

 So these aren’t as cute as Lauren’s Hope, but if you get the interactive version, you can put all of your information online and it can then be accessed by first responders in an emergency.  It allows you to update information constantly, so rather than having to get a new bracelet every time something changes, you simply access your account online and change whatever needs to be changed.  This is totally a case of function over form, but the silicone band comes in a variety of fun colors.  And there are other band types to choose from, as well. 

1. Prepara iprep (http://www.prepara.com/kitchen-gadgets/iprep)

This is something that I am totally obsessed with right now.  Its main purpose is as a stand so you can use your IPad when you are cooking.  But it is so much more than that.  It is a stand that allows me to do reading for school off of my IPad without having to hold it, can be a stand for your phone for hands free talking, and you can watch movies and stuff on it, too.  It is really great, and perfect for extra bad joint pain days.  I got mine at Barnes & Noble, but Amazon sells it, too, or you can purchase it directly from Prepara.  Definitely worth it if you have an IPad.

***

I hope that this has given you some ideas for gifts for yourself or others this holiday season.

I would love, love, love it if this post makes it to any of the companies I’ve highlighted, that they might donate a product or two for a giveaway.  So Miamica, EOS, Urban Outfitters, Oxo, Apple, Amazon or Cynthia Toussaint, Danea Horn, Katy Butler, Daniel Malito, Lauren’s Hope, Sara Gorman, Sabi, Road ID, and Prepara, if you are out there reading, please help me offer some great holiday giveaways to my readers.