Do Not Resuscitate Orders, ID Bracelets & Experiences

It may be difficult for them but honoring the last request of their fellow man should also be considered an honor. Just my pov.

@lacy2 I don't think we can possibly consider all the various scenarios, even though we would like to! You have given me food for thought, though!

Back when I was working, I told HR of my DNR orders, and they said that wasn't their concern. They were also the same people who were upset because my emergency contact [at the time I was single] was my out-of-state sister! Huh? I have been very adamant about this request over the years.
Ginger

It came to my mind in the last few days, that there are so many different scenarios, as we have expressed here in this thread. While I think I have all my bases covered, my oncology office just asked me to bring my POLST [Portable Order for Life Sustaining Treatment] on my next visit for them to scan into my file.

One thing to think about: a tattoo with DNR [Do Not Resuscitate] near your heart? You'd "never leave home without it", definitely! In my state, we have a POLST registry, so I would add that registry number. Hmm, I am seriously considering this now....
Ginger

A DNR tattoo on the chest?

@gingerw

Hi,
I have learned a lot about tattoos from my grandson who is a tattoo artist. If you don’t have much fat or muscle in that area it will probably hurt. You will see it if you wear anything low cut which is the purpose of chest tattoos. You have to remove your bra so if you are not comfortable with that then…..In most shops all tattooing is done in an open area. And they don’t come cheap although this would be a small easy one. It has to heal so you can’t get it wet…..up to 2 weeks for a large elaborate tat.

My grandson told me I had old skin lol (no offense he said but older skin is harder) and the small shamrock I wanted near my ankle would most likely hurt as there is no fat in that area. Haven’t decided on that yet.

Just a heads up on the DNR tattoo idea.

FL Mary who happens to like tattoos.

FL Mary @imallears Thank you. I have several tattoos already, all in areas where I can see them. Afterall, why would I get one if I cannot see it? [The back is a beautiful canvas, but seriously? You need a mirror to see anything there!] My last tattoo was done in 2009. I have thought about getting a couple re-inked with color, as they have faded over the decades.
Ginger

@gingerw

Awesome ! Wish I could see them all. I've seen some very faded tats on the old "sailors" The ink has evolved so maybe you can change some of the colors if you want. My advice was for those who are new to the idea and don't know much about the industry. Tattoos seem to be very popular nowadays since it's no longer taboo in the workplace..depending.

If you do the DNR...would love to see it. Calling you funky Ginger from now on lol.

FL Mary

Great, but I don't keep my meds in the medicine cabinet.....neither do most of my friends.

From Healthline:
"You may not be able to donate blood if your (tattoo) ink is less than 3 months old.
Giving blood after recently getting a tattoo can be dangerous. Though uncommon, an unclean tattoo needle can carry a number of blood borne viruses, such as

*hepatitis B
*hepatitis C
*HIV

People with new tattoos have traditionally been advised to wait a year before giving blood in order to reduce their risk of unknowingly transmitting these viruses.....Its best to work with licensed artists who work in state-regulated shops. Oftentimes, their certifications are prominently displayed on the shop walls." Thank you, Dr. Google!

While I was donating blood to my local hospital, (donated 4+ gallons before MGUS was diagnosed) I felt wistful about getting better eyebrows tattooed around my skimpy wisps. Then read the ink used would have contained iron, which might interfere with brain imaging, should that ever be necessary. That vanity is tossed aside for good! Call me Bald Brows!

A wonderfully helpful Ikon on our smart phones shows a red heart on a white field. It has the word "Health" beneath it. Have you ever opened it and filled it out? If more people even knew that it exists to be helpful, our shared concerns about DNR and other requests could be easily remedied. Yet when I stopped in at my local fire department those heroes-to-the-rescue didn't know it was there. They also were uninformed about their team members' health requests. So I sat down at the table with them and suggested they take out their own smart phones and start filling them out. I keep mine up to date and hope others will do the same. Stay well!

I want to share an article that I found to be extremely informative: Is a do-not-resuscitate tattoo a valid advance directive?

In addition to tattoos, I read that -
-Just as important as an advance directive is the conversation with family and friends.
-If you wish to avoid aggressive treatment in an ambulance, emergency responders can honor your wishes, but only if you have a Physician Order for Scope of Treatment
or are wearing a state-approved community do-not-resuscitate bracelet. While this information is specific to Minnesota and Wisconsin, the information about what to consider in a planning your D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate) extends to all of us and our families and loved ones.
- Talk with your health care team if you wish to have a do-not-resuscitate bracelet or would like to discuss advance care planning and complete these documents.
- It's critical to know that emergency responders cannot follow advance directives in emergency situations.

Here is the link to information from Mayo Clinic Health System:
- Is a do-not-resuscitate tattoo a valid advance directive?
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/is-a-do-not-resuscitate-tattoo-a-valid-advance-directive
How does the information contained in this article affect your thinking on getting a tattoo or a medical ID bracelet?