MedicAlert study finds 1 in 3 Canadians not confident family or friends would pick up their first phone call in an emergency
TORONTO, May 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Four in five Canadians (82%) know to look for a MedicAlert medical ID if they come across someone in an emergency situation, according to a new Maru/Matchbook survey conducted on behalf of MedicAlert Foundation Canada, the country's largest subscriber-based registered charity.
"With May being MedicAlert Month in Canada, the results of this nationwide survey underscore the critical, life-saving importance of wearing a MedicAlert medical ID," says Robert Ridge, President and CEO of MedicAlert Foundation Canada. "During an emergency, MedicAlert speaks for people who are not able to speak for themselves. It is one of the most effective safety measures individuals living with a medical and/or a cognitive condition can have."
Today, one in three Canadians live with a medical condition that needs to be communicated to an emergency responder (paramedic, ER doctor, police officer or firefighter) at the time of a medical emergency. However, there are still thousands of Canadians, who despite living with chronic health conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, heart conditions, dementia & Alzheimer's disease), still do not wear a MedicAlert medical ID.
According to the survey, only 15 per cent of Canadians are highly confident that emergency services could find their medical history without their support or while they were unconscious. Additionally, one in three Canadians are unsure whether a family or friend would pick up their first phone call in an emergency situation, and less than one in five (19%) were highly confident that they would get a response within two minutes.
In comparison, when a call is placed to MedicAlert, the 24/7 Emergency Hotline is answered within an average of five seconds of a call and can relay a person's key medical information to emergency responders immediately. The exclusive hotline enables emergency responders to access a person's comprehensive electronic medical profile, while the Family Notification Service alerts the person's family of the situation and their whereabouts, so they can be at their side when they need them most.
"When assessing someone at the scene of an emergency, one of the first things I look for is a MedicAlert medical ID," says paramedic and physician Blair Bigham, who is also a board member and spokesperson for MedicAlert. "If I don't have the right information, I can't make the right decision. Because I trust the information MedicAlert provides, I use it to make the best clinical decision in a life-threatening situation."
MedicAlert is the most trusted and most recommended medical ID service provider by the medical and emergency responder community, providing Canadians with lifesaving service and protection for over 55 years.
For more information, visit medicalert.ca or call 1.800.668.1507.
About MedicAlert Foundation Canada
MedicAlert Foundation Canada (MAFCA) is the largest membership-based registered charity in Canada. It is the leading provider of emergency medical information services. More than one million Canadians have been protected by their services. For over 55 years, its mission is to ensure that all Canadians have access to high-quality health information at time of need.
MedicAlert® is backed by robust electronic health records maintained by medically trained professionals, a state-of-the-art secure database, and a 24/7 Emergency Hotline that answers calls from EMS and first responder personnel in 140 languages within 5 seconds, all linked to customized identification products for Canadians with medical conditions and special needs. Globally recognized and respected, MedicAlert speaks for you, when you can't™.
Learn more about MedicAlert, how it works, and how you or a loved one can sign up to a service plan by visiting medicalert.ca or calling 1.800.668.1507.
SOURCE MedicAlert Foundation Canada
Media Contact: FleishmanHillard HighRoad: Siobhan McCarthy, FleishmanHillard HighRoad, 416-644-2234, [email protected]
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