Tatts how to send a safety message
TATTOO artist Conan Ash knows more about medical tattoos than the average guy behind an ink gun.
Medical tattoos mark a person suffering from an illness, with a rare blood type or allergies with its details.
The Cairns Ink Ur Bod tattoo artist worked as a paramedic for 16 years, where he routinely used the information on medical tattoos in order to make lifesaving decisions.
He said the tattoos were as common now as they were 50 years ago.
“We get people coming in to get their blood group tattooed if they have a rare blood group, medic alert tattoos, like if they’re allergic to penicillin, particularly in the inner elbow because that’s where any medic will go to put a cannula if they need to,” he said.
“People most often get their blood group, particularly if it’s a rare group.
“Obviously straight away any medic or doctor will know what they can put in there if they need an infusion.
“As a paramedic it is important to know of any allergies that would cause an anaphylactic reaction. In that field a tattoo like that is extremely important.”
He said paramedics were trained to look for bracelets and medical tattoos when dealing with a non-verbal or unconscious patient.
“If there’s an allergy involved people usually wear a medical alert bracelet and lots of paramedics look for that kind of thing if somebody’s unable to talk to them verbally,” he said.
He said medical tattoos were often very simple, with some as small as “O-”.
“A lot of the time it’s a stand-alone tattoo on someone who isn’t already inked,” he said.
“For something small, the font and style doesn’t matter, you’re looking at about $100.
“It’s money well spent if it’s going to save your life.”
He said the tattoos would still be taken seriously even if they were stylised to suit the personality of the person.
“You can do it really nicely with a beautiful font, something elegant for a lady,” Mr Ash said.
WE GET PEOPLE COMING IN TO GET THEIR BLOOD GROUP TATTOOED IF THEY HAVE A RARE BLOOD GROUP TATTOO ARTIST CONAN ASH