An Alternative to Medic Alert Bracelets: Jillian Rokowski was tired of feeling she as if she didn’t fit in. As a Type 1 diabetic she lived for several years having to explain her medical ID bracelet. Some may argue the explanations are at worst an inconvenience and at best the opportunity to share information about your diabetic condition – for many teens it can simply be a source of consistent embarrassment and hassle.
Jillian understood the need for the bracelet in alerting medical technicians about her diabetes, but it seemed to call attention to something that made her feel as if she wasn’t normal. Jillian told the St. Petersburg Times, “Everybody was always weirded out by it, and the teachers didn’t help. I remember in fourth and fifth grade, I didn’t go on any field trips because the teachers were like, ‘Well, we don’t really feel comfortable at this point.’”
Her experience caused Jillian and her mother to create the company Watch and Alert. This company provides a variety of stylish watches that allow the wearer to blend in with their peers while still having identification needed to ensure safe care from health practitioners. The face of each watch bears variations of the traditional medic alert bracelet. It also includes the individual’s primary health issue on the face of the watch. Additional information can be engraved on the back. There are nearly 40 conditions for which doctors will recommend patients consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace.
On her website [WatchAndAlert.com] Jillian says, “When I was seventeen I found a watch at a specialty store that had a medical symbol on the face and an engraveable plate on the back for information about my condition. For the first time since my diagnosis I was able to wear a stylish watch instead of my old bracelet. The last thing teenagers want to do is look or feel different from their peers. I honestly felt relieved and more comfortable in my own skin. When that watch broke I was devastated. I tried to find another watch but it turned out to be an impossible task to find a trendy watch with the medical alert symbol in the face. I decided I would have to create one for myself. I created a stylish watch and I got many compliments. People would ask me where I got it so they could get one for themselves or someone they knew who had a medical condition. We kept hearing over and over that people would not wear a bracelet. Unfortunately there are too many people who would rather risk their health and safety in an emergency situation then to be uncomfortable wearing a piece of jewelry they don’t like.”
Jillian told the Tampa Bay Times that she would like to get one of her watches to Nick Jonas who also suffers from Type 1 diabetes saying, “If I got it in the hands of a JoBro then every preteen in the world would want to wear it whether they had a condition or not.” Seven different watches are currently available with prices less than $45.
Many individuals who have a medical condition like diabetes refuse to wear the bracelet or necklace. Some have resorted to tattoos although health professionals caution diabetics about some of the medical issues related to getting a tattoo. Jillian is hoping that these timepieces will provide the style many are looking for with health benefits diabetics need when a crisis hits.
