Medic Alert tags

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Does anyone here have a medic alert tag or bracelet with AS on it? Do you think it's a good idea? None of my children with ASD have any. I thought about it many times but I just can't decide. I feel it's their private information and shouldn't be disclosed unless really necessary. They're high functioning, though one of them tend to respond slowly, the other can't say a thing if he gets too upset. Other than possible communication problems I don't see anything else that can go too wrong. Is it important for a medic to know if a person/kid has ASD?

I understand how you would want it to be the child's choice whether to tell someone. That makes a lot of sense for someone who can talk all or most of the time; the MedicAlert bracelet is for those times when you can't talk.

There are alternatives that aren't so public. Carrying a small card that explains the situation, for use during overload when one cannot explain it adequately, is probably something like what you're looking for. Your child could carry it in a wallet, and if they are ever stopped by a police officer or cannot explain themselves to an unfamiliar teacher, they can pull out the card and give it to them instead.

Yes, it's important for a paramedic or emergency room doc to know the child has an ASD. A typical child not talking is a different thing from an autistic child not talking; there are also different pain reactions. A doc may assume head injury when there isn't one, or try to comfort a touch-sensitive child with a hug. Knowing is a good thing.

Have the kids practice giving somebody that card if they can't use their words to explain things. It's better to know ahead of time how to do it, so you don't have to learn a new thing on the spot while you're really stressed.

Thanks for your reply! Now if I do put something on a bracelet, I guess I should put Autism on it? My kids are diagnosed PDD-NOS. If I put that on would anybody even know what that means?