Would tattooing blood type and medical info on my wrists be useful for paramedics if I was in an accident, or not?
Tattooing seems a bit too drastic.In my 9 years as a paramedic in NYC I don’t think i’ve ever bothered to read someone’s tattoo. Especially on someones wrist. 99.9% of the time we dont pay any attention to tattoos.We do go through 100% of the unconscious patient’s pockets to find an ID. So if you ever become unconscious and EMS is called chances are an EMT or a Police Officer will go through your pockets looking for an ID card. If a cop finds something medically relevant in your wallet or handbag etc they will show it to us.My advise would be to write your Name, Date of birth, Address, Emergency Contact, Past Medical history, Allergies, medications and other medically relevant information [like blood type] on a sturdy flash card [ideally laminated] and keep it in your wallet/handbag/purse etc. You’d be surprised how much information you can squeeze into a business card size [on both sides]. Put a big red cross on the card so it stands out. You can type all of this on a piece of paper and get it laminated for less that $3. Im assuming tattooing all of this will cost a lot more.I know there is a new trend in people tattooing their dog tag or “Do Not Resuscitate” on their chests etc. It is cool. But in the medical community its all cosmetic and holds no value. No ER doctor is going to look at your tattoo and order that blood for transfusion. I donated blood at two different blood banks in NYC. They gave me two different blood type. If a blood bank can make a mistake how can you be certain that your source told you the correct blood type. In an emergency everyone gets type O negative. If its not the hospital is going to run a type and cross check before they will give you some blood.So spend the money on a really cool tattoo.Good Luck.
Why should you know your blood type?
When I was a patient at a British state hospital I asked my doctor what blood type I was and he refused to tell me claiming if I knew I could use it to circumvent certain legal procedures, such as if I was required to give blood for it to be tested for some reason, such as to determine if I was the father of child, then if I knew my blood type I could get someone else of the same blood type to pretend to be me and give a blood sample.PS, My local state GP refused to let me see my medical file.PPS, This is just two examples of why countries shouldn't have a state health care program such as britains, as when it's run by the gov they can do whether the fuck they want and you can't do shit about it as they cover everything up and lie about everything.
Did all Nazi SS have their military number & blood type tattooed on inner arm?
Officialy all members of the Waffen-SS had their blood group tattooed on the inside of their left upper arm. It was applied by a unit medic, usually during basic training. If any man missed tatooing, it was supposed to be applied during consequent medical treatment. However not all Waffen-SS men received the blood group tattoo. One member of 6 SS Mountain Division did not, because he was on compassionate leave on the day his training platoon was tattooed.Men who were transferred into the Waffen-SS, from other branches of the Wermacht or Algemeine-SS, often never received the tattoo. Some of the foreign Waffen-SS troops were allowed to opt out of the tattoo, including the Britisches Freikorps and Muslim troopsSome Wermacht personnel also had the blood group tattoo. The Wermacht special forces, the Brandenburgers, usually had one and other Wermacht troops were tatooed if they were treated in SS hospitals.Thus, while the presence or absence of a blood group tattoo is a good indicator that someone served in the Waffen-SS, it is not infallible.
Do EMTs look for MedicAlert bracelets or cards?
Honestly, I am trying to remember how many patients that I encountered wearing one. Maybe two or three? In one case when it would have been very useful, the patient took it off before taking a shower.Most of the time, someone familiar with the patient was with them and able to provide a brief history. “He has diabetes, he took his insulin without eating!” Or the patient is able to provide their own history.It’s a “nice to know” sort of thing but my assessment would still be the same. A person with bracelet stating that they have diabetes may have just experienced a seizure. Someone with an implanted defibrillator (which is often very noticeable) may have just overdosed on heroine. No matter what, I would identify the problem (check a blood glucose, perform an EKG, etc) as quickly as possible and initiate the appropriate treatment.In other words, we can’t have tunnel vision. Someone wearing a bracelet, necklace, etc. may be dealing with something entirely different at that moment. And a piece of jewelry, tattoo, or whatever stating that you have a DNR is not sufficient - we need a valid original copy signed by a physician.Update:This great comment was left on my answer by the father of a child with special needs. His son’s condition could present health care providers with a bit of a mystery during diagnosis. In cases such as this, absolutely use anything available to inform providers. However, the same stands true - we can’have tunnel vision. But this information could be invaluable:My son has a rare form of hypersomnia which causes him to become non-verbal and disoriented and obviously so deeply asleep that he can not be awakened. (Not all symptoms at the same time). Are you saying the bracelet I insisted on getting was a waste of my time and money?
Doctor shot/Tattoo?
Okay so this saturday i'm going to get my first tattoo and Wedensday I got a tectic shot and it hurts like hell. Which goes deeper? I head that the doctor shot actually goes deeper then the tattoo needle. This tectic shot is so bad that i can barely move my arm. Even if it is this painful i can tough it out but just woundering.
Do you think you could live with a cadaver’s hand or arm attached to your body, or would it psychologically affect your ability to learn how to use the new appendage?
Answered: Do you think you could live with a cadaver’s hand or arm attached to your body, or would it psychologically affect your ability to learn how to use the new appendage?Another answer says cadaver transplantation might not be viable… Cadaveric tissue donation: a pathologist’s perspective … in general parlance, “cadaver” means “dead body”, but death is not so simple in medical terms. A person can be “dead” but not dead… brain death is the hallmark of “true” death as we can often keep the body perfused with oxygen and maintain a blood pressure chemically when it would not function on it’s own and is no longer viable. It’s a complex ethical issue, but one transplant teams traverse all the time. The term “living donor” means the part they are giving away (a kidney, part of a liver, blood) isn’t one that will cost them their life.For me, I would rather have a hand that works than a stump. Living with disability as I do already, I learned a long time ago that adaptation and flexibility are key to surviving… and that means learning to accept new things. It could be black, it could have a tattoo… as long as it had fingers and a thumb, it would all be good with me.Also, as a nurse and former paramedic who saw far too many people die with good organs going to waste and at the same time seeing people live painful, difficult lives due to organ failure I would choose to celebrate the selflessness of the family of the person whose loss meant I had a better life.I was a “living donor” of bone marrow, platelets and blood because my blood type is a bit weird (of course it would be, its mine…). I am thrilled and humbled that a small sacrifice on my part gave a child a chance at a life (they are adult now, and we have been in touch. Amazing!!!): when I die, if anything is useful, by all means use it, I won’t need it anymore! I would see the person who gave me their hand as having selfless compassion… who would I be to reject such a loving gift?Related links and message:First double hand transplant involving a child declared a successHow to become an organ donorThanks for the A2A: Hope you get some good discussion :)
How bad does it hurt to get blood drawn from your neck?
It hurts no worse than having blood drawn from your arm(s). However in your situation if I needed to draw blood I would look other places like your feet for a good vein to to draw off of. Also why can they not draw from your hand? Is that covered up by the casts as well? However, yes, blood can be drawn from the neck in a situation where the person has no other peripheral venous access to be found. Most likely if they have to draw from your neck they will use a vein called the external jugular. In fact in emergencies where it is hard to get an IV on a person, whether it be from the patient having very low blood pressure, or destroyed veins from intravenous illicit drug use, the external jugular may be used as a site for IV access by paramedics in the field. Well at least in my state, and where I work.
After a heroin addict has run out of veins to inject into, what does he/she do?
I've heard that addicts keep having to move onto new veins until they are forced to start injecting into parts such as their penis and groin. But what about after they've ran out of places?
Is it legal for a hospital to do a blood test on somebody who is unconscious/unable to give consent?
In the United States, it’s legal. When admitting a patient to the hospital or other healthcare service, we seek to determine what a patient’s wishes are for care, but if an unconscious patient presents to us in the field or the emergency room, we have a duty to act to save the person’s life, unless we know the person doesn’t wish to be saved because of a living will, advanced directive, or do not resuscitate order.When someone is unconscious, we need to determine what is going on with the patient in order to provide treatment. If the patient is hospitalized and unconscious, we draw blood for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. Drawing blood is a pretty routine diagnostic procedure, and many of the patients we draw blood on are unconscious.