If you have a medical condition, allergy or are unable to have specific treatments it is critical to have a bracelet, necklace or ID card that communicates this in an emergency.

When a first responder is assessing a patient, they usually work through an A-B-C method - assessing your airway, breathing and circulation. If you have a medical condition that affects one of these areas it is important to highlight this on your medical bracelet.

For instance, you may have issues with high or low blood pressure, carry an epi-pen or may have a pacemaker, all of which would impact the way you are treated by first responders. 

But what if you don't have enough space on the charm? 

Designing medical jewellery can be a balancing act between look and function. Smaller charms are often more appealing in jewellery design, but you need to make sure that the right information is put across within the character limits.

Less is often more. A medical bracelet inscription that is quickly and easily read will be most effective. Consider what will really make a difference in an emergency. It's not the place to include your full medical record.

If you need to list quite detailed information, it can often be helpful to have a simple bracelet inscription that says, "see wallet card", or "call XXX for detailed medical info". 

Abbreviations can help. 

Common medical abbreviations can be very helpful if you need to fit extra wording onto your charm, or if you want to keep your text short and sharp.

But it is important to make sure that you balance the advantages of brevity, with any chance of possible confusion or ambiguity. Stick to well known abbreviations to make sure that they are well understood. 

Common abbreviations for medical alert bracelets. 

Here is a list of common abbreviations for medical conditions and terms that may be useful when planning what to include on your medical alert jewellery:

• ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• A-FIB (or AF) - Atrial Fibrillation
• ALRG - Allergies
• AODM - Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus
• ASD -  Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• BP - Blood Pressure (Use Low / High to indicate issue)
• CA - Cancer
• CABG - Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
• CF - Cystic Fibrosis
• CHF - Congestive Heart Failure
• COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• CV - Cardiovascular 
• CVA - Stroke
• CT - Chemotherapy
• DNR - Do Not Resuscitate
• DSC - Dorsal Column Stimulator 
• DVT - Deep Vein Thrombosis
• EDS - Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
• EpiPen - Epinephrine Pen
• GI - Gastrointestinal 
• HTN - Hypertension
• ICD - Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
• IDDM - Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
• L - Left
• MS - Multiple Sclerosis
• NIDDM - Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
• NKA - No Known Allergies
• NSAIDs - Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs
• PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• R - Right
• RA - Rheumatoid Arthritis
• SCS - Spinal Cord Stimulator
• T1D or T2D - Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes
• T1 Diabetes or T2 Diabetes - Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes
• VWD - Von Willebrand's Disease
• VT/v tach - Ventricular Tachycardia

If you have a lot of information to include on your medical alert bracelet or necklace using these abbreviations can help you save space whilst making sure your medical needs are communicated in the event of an emergency. 

Formatting an abbreviation. 

It is generally not necessary to put extra periods or full stops in an abbreviation, although it will still be understood if you do so. For example "C.O.P.D." is commonly written as "COPD". 

Need some advice? 

We will always try and ensure customers get as much information on their medical alert bracelets as they need. If you have any questions about which medical information is most important in an emergency, please ask your doctor or specialist.

If you are unsure of the best way to get your information to fit on the charm of your item, we are always happy to advise on engraving layouts after you have placed your order. Or drop us a line on hello@butlerandgrace.co if you would like any help on getting your text to fit.

We hope you've found this blog helpful. To stay up to date with the latest news and tips on medical jewellery, subscribe to our newsletter today! You'll be the first to see new medical alert jewellery, tips to get you outside and active, and exclusive discounts. Plus, you'll score a FREE digital wallet card for your emergency contacts.