History
MedicAlert Through the Decades
The 1950s - The Early Years
 The MedicAlert® story actually began in the summer of 1953, in the Central Valley farming community of Turlock, California. While her parents were away on vacation, Linda Collins, the 14-year-old daughter of Dr. Marion Collins, a physician and surgeon in the town of 7,000 residents, cut her finger.
She was taken to the Lillian Collins Hospital in Turlock, a 40-bed facility founded by her grandfather. Linda’s uncle, Dr. James Collins, performed a skin test before injecting Linda with the full dose of tetanus antitoxin which contained horse serum. Seconds later, she went into anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction which can be fatal.
After spending several days fighting for her life inside an oxygen tent, Linda recovered, but there was still no drug that could cure her allergy. That incident made Linda and her parents immensely aware of her vulnerability.
“My parents realized that if one tiny drop of the antitoxin had produced that reaction,” Linda recalled, “I’d probably be killed by a full dose. Thereafter, when I went away from home for a weekend or to a neighboring town for school events, they’d attach a note to my coat or make me a paper bracelet describing my allergies.”
Many in Turlock heard about Linda’s near tragic experience and she wore a paper bracelet through her high school years. When Linda was accepted to Stanford University, however, Dr. Collins and his wife Chrissie knew that a more permanent emblem was needed.
After a family brainstorming session, during which Dr. Collins suggested a dog tag and even a tattoo, Linda convinced her father that a bracelet would be the best. A silver bracelet to be more precise – with “Allergic to Tetanus Antitoxin” engraved on the back. Dr. Collins had the snake-encircled Staff of Aesculapius, symbol of the medical profession, and the words “Medic Alert” engraved in bright red on the front of the bracelet. A jeweler in San Francisco then crafted the bracelet.
As people began to notice Linda’s bracelet and ask how to get one for themselves or a loved one, the Collins’ realized there were many people with special medical problems who could find themselves in situations where improper diagnosis and treatment might cost them their lives. The Collins family decided they needed to share their idea.
 In 1956, after several years of consulting with other professionals, Dr. Collins established MedicAlert Foundation International, a nonprofit, tax-exempt, and charitable organization. Dr. Collins said more than once, “We are not here to make money. We are here to save lives.” And he and his family demonstrated that commitment. They invested some $30,000 of their own money in the first two years alone, while contributing countless hours of volunteer time. The “mail room” for the organization in the early years was the family living room.
In October of that year, the Collinses were exhibitors at the Congress of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco. They brought 200 MedicAlert® bracelets and a small engraving machine and handed out bracelets to the attending physicians for their relatives and patients. At the show, Dr. Collins noted the positive response he was receiving and told Chrissie, “I think I can save more lives with MedicAlert® than I’ll ever save with my scalpel.”
The 1960s – Awareness Spreads Nationwide and Worldwide
The 1960s saw MedicAlert® evolve from a small, local service into a national presence in the emergency medicine field. The year 1960 was a pivotal point for the growing organization as it relocated to a hospital in Turlock. It was there that emblems were first assigned numbers and the phone service to provide details on each person’s medical history was launched.
In June 1960, MedicAlert® received its first major nationwide publicity when it was featured in This Week, a supplement in Sunday editions to 40 major U.S. newspapers. The article raised awareness across the nation and generated over 100,000 inquiries – many asking how to order a bracelet for themselves or a loved one; others from civic groups praising the idea and wanting to help.
In 1961, Canada became the first international affiliate. New Zealand was added to the affiliate roster in 1962. In the summer of 1962, the Collins’ undertook a six-week tour of Europe to promote MedicAlert in England, Holland, West Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. With the membership continuing to grow, the Foundation enlisted volunteers to help with the huge volumes of mail.
In 1964, South Africa, the British Isles and Ireland became affiliates. This was also the year that Dr. Collins suffered a cerebral thrombosis that cost him much of the use of his right hand. Taking the advice of his physician, he gave up his practice and focused entirely on MedicAlert®.
In the late 1960s, MedicAlert® transferred its member information data from handwritten records to microfiche. In 1967, with over 200,000 members, MedicAlert headquarters in Turlock, California, moved to a larger and newer office. New affiliates opened in Malaysia in 1967 and Zimbabwe in 1968.
The 1970s – Relationships Established with More Organizations
 As technology progressed, MedicAlert® launched its first computerized automation of member records in 1970, which provided a ten-fold increase in member record management capacity. Building on the international growth started in the 1960s, the MedicAlert® mission quickly spread to other countries around the world. In 1971, Australia became an affiliate.
During this time, MedicAlert® built relationships with hospitals and medical societies, as well as fire and law enforcement agencies. The 500,000th membership was reported in February 1972. After a letter about MedicAlert® ran in Ann Landers’ syndicated column in July 1974, the number of mail requests for information doubled, compared to the same period the year before.
The year 1975 proved to be a record breaker for volunteer support. Statewide literature distribution programs moved forward as hospital staff, individuals, and life underwriters’ efforts led to thousands of new memberships. This was also the year that Cyprus joined the affiliate roster.
Dr. Collins continued as president until 1975, when he was named Honorary Chairman of the Board. Mailings to professional health associations in 1975 represented more than a 100 percent increase over the previous year. By 1977, U.S. memberships were being added at a blistering pace of almost 2,000 per month. Unfortunately, Dr. Collins was not able to see the fruits of his labor. On August 5, 1977, Dr. Collins died at his home at age 70. Chrissie Collins became the honorary leader and guiding spirit, providing insight and experience integral to the development of the organization.
In November 1977, the first International conference of the MedicAlert Foundation and its affiliates was held in Turlock. Also in 1977, comedienne Carol Burnett became the one millionth member and served as National Chairperson from 1977-1978.
In 1978, MedicAlert® earned the endorsements of three of the most influential associations in emergency medicine: the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Emergency Department Nurses Association, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. Also in 1978, the first National MedicAlert Week was held. In 1979, actor Edward Asner was named National Volunteer Chairman.
The 1980s - New Headquarters Building
 On March 26, 1981, MedicAlert Foundation International moved into its new 32,000 square-foot headquarters in Turlock, the hometown of the Collins family. The $2.3 million building was completely paid for when the company moved in due to the generosity of donors. Today, all international and U.S. operations are conducted from this location, including a 24-hour emergency response center, our global data center, marketing and manufacturing departments.
The dedication ceremony coincided with the Foundation’s 25th anniversary, and a number of activities commemorated the dual celebration. On hand for the festivities were officials from the MedicAlert Board of Directors and international MedicAlert offices, as well as Julius Richmond, M.D., U.S. Surgeon General; Peter Safar, M.D., noted for introducing CPR in the early 1960s; and actor Lorne Greene, National Volunteer Chairman for MedicAlert®.
In 1982, MedicAlert® accepted an invitation to create a formal working relationship with the World Health Organization. In 1983, membership surpassed the 2 million mark. That year, Dr. Joyce Brothers acted as Volunteer Chairman for National MedicAlert® Week.
Also in 1983, MedicAlert provided nearly 1,000 complimentary memberships to young men and women from around the world competing in the International Special Olympics in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1984, Iceland became an affiliate.
1990s
 Having almost 40 years of service under its belt, in the early 1990s, MedicAlert® developed and tested the ability to store more detailed information for members, including Advanced Directives, Do-Not-Resuscitate orders, medical device instructions and more. MedicAlert® also introduced the TravelPlus™ program to suit the changing needs and lifestyle requirements of members.
In 1993, MedicAlert worked with the National Association of School Nurses in identifying high-risk school age students that were provided complimentary MedicAlert identification.
 National visibility continued to surge during this time as television stations nationwide aired MedicAlert® public service announcements. In 1996, Chrissie Collins was awarded the American Medical Association’s highest honor - “The Citation for Distinguished Service.” She and daughter, Linda Collins Maurer also appeared on CBS-TV’s “This Morning” show hosted by Paula Zahn.
The first MedicAlert® web site was launched to improve the member experience. Members can now review and update their records online and new members can enroll for MedicAlert® protection anywhere, anytime.
2000s
In 2001, Chrissie Collins passed away at the age of 94. Her legacy, as co-founder and a member of the Board of Directors for 45 years, was enormous and included the creation of The Chrissie Collins Children’s Fund. Donations to this fund provide sponsored memberships for children in need of MedicAlert® services who are unable to afford it.
Volunteers continue to play a major role in the organization, with thousands of hours of support recognized annually during a Volunteer Appreciation Day luncheon, held in conjunction with National Volunteer Week.
On October 16, 2004, Linda Collins Maurer, died from breast cancer at the age of 65. Aside from being the very first MedicAlert® member, she was also an avid golfer. As an amateur, she was a two-time California Women’s Golf Association champion, a six-time Northern California Golf Association champion, and placed 27th in the 1964 U.S. Open.
“She left a legacy that our lifesaving mission is as vital today as when it first began,” said Martin Kabat, President and CEO of MedicAlert®.
A New Vision
Today, with Martin Kabat at the helm as President and CEO, MedicAlert® has gone beyond being just a bracelet company. As the baby boom generation ages, the average life expectancy lengthens and the incidence of chronic diseases rises, Mr. Kabat’s vision is to have MedicAlert® expand globally to be the world repository of critical health and personal safety information, while enhancing the quality of life and safety of members.
Tens of thousands of lives have been saved since Chrissie and her husband, Dr. Collins, acted on an idea. The idea, to create a body-worn identification emblem supported by a 24-hour emergency medical information service offering peace of mind, became a reality. It has withstood the test of time over the past 50 years. From index cards to the Internet, MedicAlert® has come a long way since the first bracelet was created for Linda Collins. The original bracelet is now in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
Today, with offices in 10 countries, MedicAlert® bracelets and necklaces are worn by over 4 million people worldwide. The dedication shown by Chrissie and Dr. Collins continues to be an inspiration to us all and serves as a reminder that our mission is as vital today as it was in 1956.
“I think I can save more lives with MedicAlert® than I’ll ever save with my scalpel.”
Dr. Marion C. Collins
October 1956
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