What should I engrave

Deciding what you should engrave on your medical ID can be tricky. The best rule of thumb is to consider what a paramedic / the emergency services would need to know should you take ill and be unable to communicate with them.  

You should try to include the reason for the medical ID, so the primary medical condition or allergy. We always recommend consulting your doctor or specialist to decide what to engrave on your medical ID if you are unsure, but to help you get started we have some general advice on what to engrave. 

The overriding principle is that all information should be relevant to life-saving or emergency treatment. As a guide, we recommend having the following engraved on your medical ID bracelet if there is room: 

• The medical condition(s) or allergies that first responders need to be aware of. 
• Any medications you may be on which could impact on your treatment, for example blood thinners. 
• Any life-saving medications you carry, for example EpiPen or hydrocortisone. 
• Your name (either your full name or first name, depending on your preference). 
• Blood type if you have a blood condition or disorder. 
• “See medical card” (if you choose to carry a medical ID card in your phone case or wallet). 
An ICE phone number (ICE stands for In Case of Emergency, most people put their next of kin’s number if they have one). 

General advice on engraving: 

• Information should relate to conditions not otherwise discoverable by examination of an unconscious or incapacitated patient. 
• Important medications should be listed. 
• Information should be relevant to life-saving or emergency treatment.  
• Avoid using general terms, e.g. “Allergies: bee stings, nuts” is much more useful than just “Allergies”. 
• Try to put “Taking” or “On” in front of the names of medications, e.g. Taking Warfarin.  
• Try to use full wording rather than abbreviations if space allows. 
• You can choose to engrave just the ICE number, “ICE: 0800 999 3669”, or add the contact’s name or relationship, “ICE: 0800 999 3669 Mum”. 
• It is personal preference as to if you put your full name or just your first name. 
 
Some examples of what people have engraved are: 

Susan Jones 
Epilepsy 
Taking Tegretol 
0800 999 3669 
 
John Smith 
Diabetic 
Taking Metformin 
Allergy Penicillin 
ICE: 0800 999 3669 
 
Benji Ward 
Severe Nut Allergy 
Carries Adrenaline (ANAPEN) 
ICE: 0800 999 3669 
 
 
PLEASE NOTE: The above examples are illustrative only. Not all items would allow as many lines or characters. 
 
If you are unsure what to engrave, we always recommend speaking to your doctor to find out what they think you should include as they will be best placed advise you. 
 
Once you have entered your engraving, please check it carefully. Once you order your item, we will personalise it EXACTLY as you have requested. We will only use CAPITAL letters where you have used CAPITAL letters. We do not check telephone numbers. 
 
If you cannot fit all of your required details onto your item, we suggest you engrave / mark the last line to read "See Medical ID Card" and purchase one of our Medical Identity Cards. 
 
Please note, we always maximise the text to make it as large as possible. If you have a specific layout requirement, please contact us after placing your order. 
 
Note: You cannot return a personalised item for exchange or refund. 
 
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND MEDICAL ENGRAVING / MARKING ON SOS TALISMAN OR NON-MEDICAL ITEMS AS THE EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL NOT BE EXPECTING IT.