With more than 50 years of saving lives, the MedicAlert Foundation partners with Thrive to continue a legacy of providing members' critical medical information in an emergency

TURLOCK, Calif., April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MedicAlert Foundation International, the leader in providing emergency response medical information services, today announced its participation at the first annual Thrive Allergy & Gluten-free Expo in 2009, taking place in Chicago on April 18-19.

According to the Food Allergy Initiative, more than 12 million people have food allergies including approximately three million children under the age of 18. For all kinds of allergy sufferers and their families, the MedicAlert service provides peace of mind and freedom to live their lives to the fullest without worrying whether the right information will be available when it is needed most.

"As infants, both of my boys developed severe allergies. Their childhood has been full of emergency room visits, shots and lengthy lists of foods they have to avoid. Having my children wear their MedicAlert bracelets gives me peace of mind," said Denise Bunning, mother of Bryan and Daniel, MedicAlert members. "If they are ever in a life-threatening emergency due to their food allergies, all of their pertinent medical information is right there for the paramedics to see. Every parent wants to protect their child at all times. Wearing their MedicAlert bracelets will help to ensure that my boys receive the best care possible in an emergency situation."

MedicAlert, a non-profit foundation with more than 4 million members, plays an important role in the daily life of people with allergies. MedicAlert's instantly-recognizable jewelry acts as a life-saving device, providing specific medical conditions and allergies, prescriptions and contact information in an instant to emergency personnel.

"As a former first responder, I have witnessed hundreds of emergency situations. We are trained to look for the MedicAlert emblem and the information that we receive, especially with an allergy sufferer, is crucial in those first few minutes," says Greg Adams, associate director, Emergency Medical Education at MedicAlert. "Everyone suffering from an allergy should ensure that they are protected by MedicAlert to communicate their critical medical information in an emergency. The bracelet quickly and accurately directs professionals in making the most informed treatment decisions possible -- especially when you are unable to speak for yourself."

MedicAlert is at booth #506 at the Thrive Allergy & Gluten-free Expo and an expert panel, sponsored by MedicAlert, will be held during both days of the show.

About MedicAlert

MedicAlert pioneered the first medical identification service in 1956 as a way to provide people with a simple but effective method for communicating about their medical conditions. Since the organization's founding, MedicAlert has provided services and products that protect and save the lives of its 4 million members. For more than 50 years, the organization has relayed vital medical information on behalf of its members to emergency responders so they receive faster and safer treatment. MedicAlert emblems, worn as bracelets, pendants or other forms of jewelry, alert emergency personnel to a member's primary health conditions. In addition to its 24-hour emergency response service, MedicAlert also provides family notification in the case of an emergency and so that members can be reunited with their families. For more information visit www.medicalert.org

SOURCE MedicAlert Foundation

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