Medic alert watches?

[Seaglass]

I just got accepted at a place where the uniform guidelines ask for no jewelry beyond a watch. While I'm sure that they'd be understanding with medical tags, it got me thinking. I've been looking for both a new medic alert (I'm one of those people who's made a stupid habit of never wearing my old one, meaning I now have no idea where it is) and a new watch with a second hand. I also prefer to wear as little jewelry as possible while working. So getting a medic alert watch would seem to make sense.

But I've got a couple concerns. They don't seem common, so I'm worried that people may not check to see whether the watch has a symbol. Beyond that, it seems like it could be a hassle to get it off to read the back casing, especially if I'm unresponsive. Luckily, I'm not worried about getting weird reactions for wearing it at all at the new place, so I'm not worried about how well it can hide under my sleeve.

So, for the more experienced people out there, am I just weird for never having come across anyone wearing one? Or am I better off with a normal bracelet? Anyone else out there also wearing medical jewelry while working?

 

[mycrofft]

Medicalert on the down-low.

You can wear it if they knew about it when you were hired. You might be able to wear it even if they didn't know about it when your were hired. It might qualify as a disability and be protected by the American with Disabilities Act. However, many people choose not to wear theirs in plain sight, so they wear them on their ankles, or as a "dogtag" under their clothes, or carry the braclet in their pocket and have a card next to their driver's license.
Remember to check people for these alternative sites.
How about a nice Medic-alert stickpin, cufflinks, or tongue-stud?

 

[AJ Hidell]

That's actually a pretty cool idea. I've never come across one. In fact, this is the first I've ever heard of one. I don't think it is as readily identifiable as a bracelet, but I like the idea better. Once they become more commonly known in the medical fields, it will be an even more viable option. Unfortunately, even as long as Medic Alert bracelets and necklaces have been around, EMTs still have a bad habit of never checking for them. They are more commonly found in the hospital, because the hospital more commonly strips down medical patients than we do in the field.

 

[Seaglass]

My place knew about it before hiring. It's a small organization, and one of the people on my interview panel actually ran a call on me a few years ago.

Luckily, all of my stuff falls into the 'mostly harmless' category. ADA covers me legally, although I have nothing that needs accommodation... go figure. Still, I've avoided visible medical jewelry when I'm not doing anything dangerous because people are idiots. Random strangers like to grab it ("ZOMG! U have diabeetus too!"), roommates have thought I was contagious ("That thing means you have AIDs, right?"), and well-meaning relatives use it to talk about how all problems can be cured through prayer. I want to wear it at work because I've heard way too many horror stories about getting hit at accident sites and so on.

I totally want a tongue stud. Try grabbing that, crazies!