New Device Protects the Sick Medic Alert Foundation's Latest Invention Helps Provide Ready Aid to Medically Weak
The police officer received a report over his patrol car radio requesting him to investigate an incident at a local tavern. A man reportedly was drunk and was getting out of hand.
When the officer arrived, the man appeared quite drunk. Consequently, he was taken to the station and jailed for drunkenness. Later that night he died in his cell.
It was discovered that the man had not had an excess of alcohol. He was suffering, instead, from insulin shock. The man was diabetic.
ALTHOUGH THIS INCIDENT, recalled by Dr. Raymond Schwegler, director of Watkins Hospital, occurred 20 years ago in Lawrence, many similar incidents can and are occurring today. How can society check such mistakes?
Currently, an attempt to answer this question is appearing in the form of an organization known as Medic Alert Foundation with headquarters in Turlock, Calif. The recently founded organization has been declared a non-profit, tax exempt organization by the United States Treasury Department. Medic Alert Foundation proposes a system of medical alert by which a person wears an emblem with vital information on it either as a bracelet or necklace.
THIS EMBLEM MAY save many lives. The American Medical Association (AMA) estimates that 40 million persons in the United States—one person in five—should be wearing some sort of medical signaling device.
According to Dr. Schwegler, many people could use Medic Alert with great profit.
"In Lawrence we have cases where police have picked up diabetics who were in insulin shock. The police think these persons are drunk and treat them as such," he said.
At KU, only about one student in 30 needs to wear any kind of medical signaling device, Dr. Schwegler said.
"We at KU would gain less from a program such as Medic Alert than would the general population. The reason is that, medically, we already know a lot about everyone on campus. There were about 200 students this year who somehow avoided taking a physical and were not placed in our records. However, we are gradually tracking these persons down so that we will have a medical record on them also," he said.
DR. SCHWELLER explained that Medic Alert would help the police a great deal, since they are usually the first to come in contact with medical alert situations.
"We at the University have a standing rule or agreement with the police. Whenever they pick up a student for drunkenness, they bring him to the hospital first just to be sure there is not something medically wrong," he said.
4
Daily Kansan Thursday, January 13, 1966
In an emergency, such as an accident where unconsciousness occurs, the emblem will speak for the person who cannot speak for himself. The front of the emblem warns police, firemen, ambulance crews, nurses or doctors that the person has a special medical problem.
THE BACK OF the emblem tells the nature of the problem. It could be diabetes, epilepsy, taking anticoagulants, or others. There also is a number where authorized persons may call collect 24 hours a day for additional information about the member. This may include his name, address, next of kin, family doctor's name and other brief medical data as filed by the member.
Medic Alert Foundation has seven international associates in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the Netherlands, Philippines, England and Belgium. More than 140,000 persons around the world are members of Medic Alert.
A lifetime Medic Alert membership costs $5.00. This includes the stainless steel emblem for neck or wrist. Sterling silver emblems are available for $7.50.
The Clutter family murder is the subject Joseph P. Jenkins, Kansas City trial lawyer, will speak on during a Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity dinner-meeting at 7 o'clock tonight at the Virginia Inn.
Defender of Slayers Speaks
Jenkins became involved in the case in September of 1962 when he was appointed by the Federal Court to defend the convicted murderers in a highly technical appeal.
Prompt Electronic Service
on
TV Color TV Antennae
Hi-fi Stereos Changers
Radios Transistors Car Radios
- We Service All Makes -
RCA
Motorola Airline
GE Zenith Silvertone
Philco Magnavox Coronado
Bird TV-Radio Service
PHONE VI 3-8855
908 Mass. St. — Lawrence, Kans. ---
LP RECORD SALE!
ALL Folk and Country Music 25% Off
Baez, Dylan, Belafonte, Niles Peter, Paul & Mary, Yarbrough Weavers, Clancy Bros, & More
925 Mass.
VI 3-2644