Medical Emergency Bracelets

[kip000]

I've been living in Thailand for 1 1/2 now, and have just signed another year contract with my job. I recently discovered that I have a new allergy to Penicillin and that if I come into contact with Penicillin the reaction will be me adverse. When I mention this allergy to my Thai friends they don't understand what Penicillin is, an online translator keeps translating it back into 'anti -biotic' - 'No I'm not allergic to anti-biotics'. I was also told that it's just Penicillin but I want this to be put on a emergency medical bracelet incase anything happens to me whilst in Thailand. If anyone has any information on where to buy Thai scripture medical emergency bracelets, or what Penicillin might translate as that would be great thanks.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Don't know about bracelets but you can have dog tags made here, or key chain tags, etc. Future Park Mall in Rangsit does these and I reckon most malls would have small shops that do to.

Mac

[NomadJoe]

Big outlet/distributor pharmacies will have them, as should most major hospitals. Not sure where you are but for Phuket the main distributors are Santi Healthcare or SuperCheap. In Samui it's Morya.

Penicillin is a name and thus you need to transliterate it using Thai sounds. There are various ways of doing this, but I would use "เพนิซิลิน" which would sound like pay-ní-sí-lin.

Thai2English.com is a great resource site for translating things as it gives you several options and explanations of the terms. Google is hopeless.

.

Edited May 19, 2012 by NomadJoe

[Tywais]

but I would use "เพนิซิลิน" which would sound like pay-ní-sí-lin.

That is nearly correct -เพนิซิลลิน Thai Wiki

[JohnC]

I tried to source these and other items marketed in UK under the Medi-alert name but could only find one supplier, a Australian lady in Chaing Mai. Unfortunately she packed in and went home. I feel there is a market in Thailand for medi-alert as they can be used to alert hospitals of individuals prescribed medicines, allergies etc plus it would not be difficult to train staff to recognise them . All it needs is an entrepreneur to ship them in, arrange engraving and a marketing plan. You can also put your healthcare policy details on them so in the event youu cannot communicate the hospital can see you are covered

Edited May 19, 2012 by JohnC

[Tywais]

Surprised how difficult it is to find info for them in Thailand. Found a link, indicates Chiang Mai.

http://www.mdcnx.com/fasali/index.html

[NomadJoe]

but I would use "เพนิซิลิน" which would sound like pay-ní-sí-lin.

That is nearly correct -เพนิซิลลิน Thai Wiki

If I'm not mistaken, wouldn't that be closerto"pay-ní-sin-lin". You will notice that Wiki page spells it เพนิซิลิน throughout the rest of the document. Anyway, it's a transliteration so there is going to be more than one way it can be spelled. I just emailed a Thai doctor I know and asked if she could spell it and also confirm where a bracelet can be obtained.

[Puccini]

It would be interesting to see how the manufacturers of medicines containing penicillin in Thailand write it in Thai on their packages and the insert leaflet, and if they all write it the same way. Unfortunately, and cannot find any copies on the web.

An advanced Google search on the website of Thailand's Ministry of Public Health shows two incidents of "เพนิซิลลิน", six of "เพนิซิลิน"

Edited May 19, 2012 by Puccini

[Puccini]

kip000, are you only allergic to the original penicillin, ie the substance with the generic name penicillin, or also to penicillin derivatives such as ampicillin, dicloxacillin, amoxicillin, etc? Take this into account when drafting the text for your bracelet or dog tag, eg write "penicillin and its derivatives" or something like that.

[Sheryl]

Unfortuneately the bracelet or dog tag will help you only iof someone bothers to check it which is not customary in Thailand.

If you are allergic to penicillin you should also not take amoxicillin, ampicillin etc as they are the same family. And you are at increased risk of reacting to cephalosporins.

You'll need to be very proactive in telling doctors of your allergy as in my experience the majority don't ask and will even fail to note it when it is written in the chart. Make sure everyone close to you who might be with you when ill is aware.

And I'd put a prominently written note,m in Thai, in your wallet clipped to your insurance card (if you have one) or otherwise prominently placed. While they might not check a bracelet or tag if you are brought into an ER unconscious, they will very likely check your wallet looking for ID and proof of insurance.SO a note in Thai prominently displayed there stands the best chance of being read.

[NomadJoe]

My Thai doctor friend says เพนนิซิลิน is the way to spell it, but it sounds like it's one of those things that because it's a transliteration of sounds and not a translation we will see several spellings that will be understood, like the sign at the end of my soi that says "Puket." She is not sure where you can get them in Thailand, which kind of surprised me. I still think your best bet is a medical supply store, which is actually what I was trying to describe in my earlier post. If you have one made, according to my doctor friend you will want to put the words "แพ้ยาฆ่าเชื้อ เพนนิซิลิน" meaning "Allergic to Penicillin". Have the star of life logo on one side. I'm sure you have seen what the bracelets look like.

[Sheryl]

Fine, but I still think that message prominantely displayed in the wallet is his best bet.

[NomadJoe]

Fine, but I still think that message prominantely displayed in the wallet is his best bet.

Or perhaps both.