Emma'sDad
11-21-2006, 10:23 AM
NOVA SCOTIA (CBC) - Thousands of children across Canada with serious medical conditions will soon have access to free MedicAlert bracelets, under a national program launched Monday.
Under the MedicAlert program, people supply information about their conditions to a central registry and wear easily identifiable bracelets or medallions engraved with that information along with an ID number and a 24-hour emergency hotline number.
Normally, it costs at least $50 to sign up for the service, plus a $39 a year renewal fee. But the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation says it will waive the fees under its new "No Child Without" program to help students aged four to 14 with asthma, diabetes or severe allergies.
"Most parents know of children who have severe medical problems," said Deborah Legrove, the director of communications for MedicAlert Canada.
"Every time they leave the house, there's a fear, a fear of 'what's going to happen with my child if something goes wrong? If his asthma kicks in or his diabetes gets out of control, who's going to know how to help him?' " Legrove told CBC Newsworld.
"Well, by wearing the MedicAlert bracelet, that helps identify the medical condition of that child."
The program aims to equalize conditions so all children are protected while they're away from home and in the care of others, Legrove said.
"The emergency numbers on the back of the MedicAlert bracelets mean school officials and health-care providers have quick access to a student's condition should there be an emergency," said Dr. Bruce Minnes, a director of pediatric emergency medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
"Critical conditions such as anaphylaxis, asthma and various allergies need immediate attention by paramedics or doctors. Precious time is too often lost tracking down vital medical information."
The silver bracelets come in a variety of shapes and forms for children, and are already worn by one million Canadians.
A pilot program offering free bracelets to children was introduced in 2005, serving 700 students in five provinces - Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
MedicAlert aims to expand the program to all 10,000 elementary schools in Canada over the next five years. More than 400 schools are already on a waiting list.
The charity is funding the program by raising money from its members, corporations and governments.
With files from the Canadian Press
Under the MedicAlert program, people supply information about their conditions to a central registry and wear easily identifiable bracelets or medallions engraved with that information along with an ID number and a 24-hour emergency hotline number.
Normally, it costs at least $50 to sign up for the service, plus a $39 a year renewal fee. But the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation says it will waive the fees under its new "No Child Without" program to help students aged four to 14 with asthma, diabetes or severe allergies.
"Most parents know of children who have severe medical problems," said Deborah Legrove, the director of communications for MedicAlert Canada.
"Every time they leave the house, there's a fear, a fear of 'what's going to happen with my child if something goes wrong? If his asthma kicks in or his diabetes gets out of control, who's going to know how to help him?' " Legrove told CBC Newsworld.
"Well, by wearing the MedicAlert bracelet, that helps identify the medical condition of that child."
The program aims to equalize conditions so all children are protected while they're away from home and in the care of others, Legrove said.
"The emergency numbers on the back of the MedicAlert bracelets mean school officials and health-care providers have quick access to a student's condition should there be an emergency," said Dr. Bruce Minnes, a director of pediatric emergency medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
"Critical conditions such as anaphylaxis, asthma and various allergies need immediate attention by paramedics or doctors. Precious time is too often lost tracking down vital medical information."
The silver bracelets come in a variety of shapes and forms for children, and are already worn by one million Canadians.
A pilot program offering free bracelets to children was introduced in 2005, serving 700 students in five provinces - Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
MedicAlert aims to expand the program to all 10,000 elementary schools in Canada over the next five years. More than 400 schools are already on a waiting list.
The charity is funding the program by raising money from its members, corporations and governments.
With files from the Canadian Press