Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama now provides a free emergency medical card to all Alabama residents and residents of other states that are insured by the organization.
The card, which can be registered for online at myepi.net, has the registered person’s name, an emergency contact and a rescue login number.
Registering takes fewer than five minutes.
If the card holder is in an accident, paramedics or hospital personnel can go to the Web site and enter the number from the patient’s card.
The Web site then brings up the medical history of the card holder including current medications, surgeries, blood type and allergies.
“I think it is a wonderful idea,” said Christine Sirna, a junior in chemistry. “If something serious happened to me I would want the emergency rescue to be able to quickly look up my medical history to treat me properly.”
There are many advantages to the card. It allows paramedics to look up vital information quickly.
“If a person got into an accident and was unconscious, you could look up their blood type and medical history quickly to be able to treat them properly without having to contact anyone,” Sirna said.
The information cannot be accessed without the number printed on the card.
Information can only be changed with a username and password created by the individual.
The Web site is security-enabled and claims to store your information confidentially and securely.
“I would be interested in getting one. I have a lot of cards in my wallet, and this one would actually be important,” said Josh Hughes, a junior in radio, television and film.
Some people see having one more card to carry around as a downfall.
“Having the card would only help you; however, whether or not you actually have the card with you at the time of such an emergency is another issue,” said Shelley Steiner, a junior in elementary education.
Although technology now allows for better ways to store this information, the card is inexpensive to make, whereas the alternative is more pricey.
“I do think it is a good idea, but I think the idea of placing a microchip under the skin, what is now popular to have done to your pets, would benefit much greater,” Steiner said.
“That way, the paramedics would not have to search for the location of your card, they would simply scan the microchip placed in a universal location.”
