If you’ve developed red cell antibodies, it’s important that emergency and medical personnel are
aware — especially in the event of an accident where you might be unable to speak for yourself.
A medical alert can help protect you by ensuring your antibody status is known and taken
seriously from the very beginning of care.

Certain antibodies can make blood transfusions dangerous or delay the time it takes to find
compatible blood. A medical alert helps flag this critical information when every second counts.

Some families choose to wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that lists their specific
antibody, such as “Anti-Kell Antibodies – Blood Transfusions Require Antigen-Negative Blood”.
Others use digital options-most smartphones allow you to create a Medical ID that can be
accessed from the lock screen. This is a convenient way to list your red cell antibody (like
anti-D, anti-c, or anti-K) and include a note about transfusion precautions. iPhone users can find
this in the Health app; Android users can access it through emergency settings.

You might also add a line to your lock screen wallpaper that says something like “See Medical
ID – Anti-D Antibodies,” or carry a printed card in your wallet.

A sample alert might read:
“Anti-c Antibodies – Transfusion Requires c-Negative Blood.”

Whether you’re currently pregnant or not, keeping your antibody status visible could prevent
dangerous delays in care. These antibodies don’t go away, and while they don’t pose ongoing
health risks to you, they do need to be considered carefully if you ever need a blood transfusion.