Donor Newsletter – May 2023, Volume 8
As the days grow longer and warmer, we look forward to the joys of spring and summer. However, for millions of individuals living with allergies and asthma, this season brings heightened risks that can be frightening and overwhelming. At MedicAlert Foundation, we understand the worries that come with these conditions.
During Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month, we’re reminded of the profound impact of our founder, Dr. Marion Collins. He was inspired to create MedicAlert after his daughter had a near fatal allergic reaction. Protecting those with allergies is literally in MedicAlert’s DNA.
Because of you, our loyal supporters, we’re able to carry on his legacy and be there for our members and their families living with asthma and severe allergies – as well as many other people with life-threatening conditions.
You may think “what’s so serious about asthma and allergies?” But the truth is that they both affect millions of Americans. And both asthma and severe allergies can be deadly. The stakes are high and complications from asthma or allergies require immediate treatment.
An untreated asthma attack can lead to death. For severe allergies, someone exposed to an allergen may go into anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal if not treated within 15-30 minutes.
Asthma
Nearly 26 million people in the U.S. have asthma. That equals about 1 in 13 people.*
Asthma accounts for over 1.6 million emergency room visits a year.*
On average in the US, 10 people a day die from asthma.*
Allergies
The most common triggers for anaphylaxis are medicines, food, and insect stings. Medicines cause the most allergy-related deaths.
Food allergies alone affect as many as 32 million Americans, including 26 million adults and 5.6 million children.
Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room. And every year, 200,000 people require medical care for allergic reactions to food.**
MedicAlert Foundation is proud to join our partners AAFA (Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America), Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), and FAACT (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team) to support education and awareness of these life-threatening conditions.
*Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
**Food Allergy Research and Education
Like many chronic conditions, there is no cure for asthma or severe allergies. They are lifelong conditions that require ongoing vigilance. That’s why so many people with asthma and allergies rely on MedicAlert to protect them. We help them get fast & accurate treatment in an emergency.
Your generous donations power our 24/7 emergency response service, enabling us to quickly relay critical medical information to first responders in times of crisis. The direct result of your support is improved emergency outcomes and more lives saved.
MedicAlert’s call center handles over 25,000 emergency calls a year, providing a lifeline for our members and the first responders treating them. Your donations have kept our emergency response specialists on call around the clock for the past 67 years. We can’t thank you enough for your dedicated support.
To show you how your support saves lives, we’re sharing the story behind a recent emergency call that exemplifies the impact of your donations. Working with paramedics, we assisted in saving a life. It was all possible because of your generosity.
Long-time MedicAlert member Janice lives with severe nut allergies and asthma. Recently, Janice attended a community board meeting and unknowingly took a bite of a cookie that contained almond extract.
Within minutes, Janice went into anaphylaxis. She was having such a difficult time breathing that she wasn’t able to talk, and soon lost consciousness. People in the meeting didn’t know what to do, so they called 9-1-1. When the paramedics arrived, they immediately noticed Janice’s MedicAlert ID and contacted our 24/7 emergency response team.
MedicAlert emergency specialist Lucia quickly relayed all of Janice’s allergies, other health conditions, and medications.
Right away, first responders administered epinephrine to counteract her severe allergic reaction. The first dose wasn’t enough to alleviate her symptoms, so they administered another dose in the ambulance.
Meanwhile, MedicAlert sent Janice’s full health record to the hospital where she was being taken, so the ER medical team was prepared to treat her as soon as she arrived. MedicAlert also called Janice’s emergency contact, her daughter, who went straight to the ER to be with her mother.
Janice needed more supportive treatments at the hospital, so she stayed overnight for observation. Sometimes, anaphylaxis can rebound hours after the initial episode. Luckily, in this case, the epinephrine worked, and Janice was able to go home the next day.
We followed up with Janice a few days later. She credits MedicAlert for saving her life. “If the paramedics hadn’t recognized my bracelet, I might not be here today,” she says.
“I’ve had allergic reactions before, but never one that escalated so quickly. I was in a room full of strangers. One moment I felt my throat constrict and suddenly it was so hard to breathe that I couldn’t talk. I had an EpiPen in my purse, but I couldn’t tell anyone I felt myself starting to pass out, and I was scared,” she said.
As a member for over 33 years, Janice now knows firsthand the life-saving power of a MedicAlert ID and protection plan. She said, “Without MedicAlert, I don’t know what would have happened. With anaphylaxis, getting quick treatment is the key to survival. Thank God that MedicAlert was there for me when I really needed help.”
Thanks to your financial support, we’re able to provide these life-saving services to Janice and countless others like her.
Meet Sarah, MedicAlert member since 1999
Sarah’s life changed forever when she was diagnosed with severe food allergies at the tender age of three. As her parents grappled with the overwhelming worry of keeping their daughter safe, Sarah’s pediatrician recommended MedicAlert – and they haven’t looked back since.
“Living with five severe food allergies, asthma, and an allergy to sulfa has never been easy,” Sarah says.
“Every day feels like a constant battle to stay safe and avoid potential triggers. But having MedicAlert by my side gives me and my family a sense of security that’s hard to put into words.”
Sarah still remembers the day her pediatrician recommended MedicAlert to her parents, and the words he spoke that have stayed with her ever since: “MedicAlert is imperative. In the event something happens, food allergies would be the last thing someone thinks of, when it should be the first. With food allergies, treatment needs to be immediate; there is absolutely no time to wait.”
Years later, Sarah still relies on MedicAlert every day. “I never take off my MedicAlert ID, and the lifesaving protection plan is an essential part of my life. I know that I will need MedicAlert for the rest of my life. I can’t imagine navigating my conditions without them, and I am forever grateful for the support and protection that they provide.”
The care and support that MedicAlert provides gives Sarah and her family peace of mind, allowing them to live life to the fullest. You can read Sarah’s full story here.
Lorne Greene, from the hit TV show “Bonanza”, was our national volunteer chairman in 1981. While chairman, Greene stated,
“To think one man’s idea to protect his daughter has become the most widely recognized symbol of medical identification in the world is a marvelous testimony to the power of an idea. Not only is there power in an idea, but there is real power in the willingness to help people.“
Stories had the power to inspire and heal. As a MedicAlert donor, you have a special connection with MedicAlert Foundation. Would you be willing to share why you are a MedicAlert member? Maybe you’ve had an emergency situation where MedicAlert truly made a difference for you. Or you can tell us what inspires you to donate to MedicAlert,
As we continue to upgrade our website, we’ll be sharing more member and donor stories to help others understand what MedicAlert is all about. We can tell people all day about what we do, but hearing from you – members and donors – is so much more powerful.
You can share your story anonymously if you’d like. Mostly we just want to hear what MedicAlert means to you. If you’re willing to share, reach out to us here, and one of our team will follow up with you shortly.
If you’re starting to think about your giving legacy and would like to name MedicAlert as a beneficiary, you can find more information here.
By making a planned gift, you help secure the future of our lifesaving work for generations to come. Your donation can make an impact today, or you can choose to have it take effect after your lifetime. Not only will you be supporting our mission, but you can also enjoy tax advantages and provide for your family. However you choose to include MedicAelrt, we’d be endlessly grateful for your gift – along with the millions of people who rely on MedicAlert to protect their health and safety.
On behalf of all of us at MedicAlert Foundation, thank you for your financial support. We are so grateful for you, our generous donors.