Trendy watch more than just an accessory

Monday, March 16, 2009

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These medical ID watches inform paramedics and EMT's to a user's medical conditions. Watch the story Watch Video

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- There's now a trendy accessory for people with medical conditions.

Jillian Rokowski, 21, and her mother invented a medical ID watch that informs paramedics and EMT's to a user's medical conditions.

The idea came to Rokowski after she was hospitalized and diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 10.

She lived the next eight years of her life with a "not-so-stylish" medical bracelet around her wrist.

"It drew a lot of attention to my wrist," Rokowski said. "People were always like, 'why do you wear that, what does it mean?' It was always a trigger point for people knowing I was diabetic."

The watches can be used by people with any medical condition.

"We would like people to get something they feel very good about, very confident," she said. "If somebody asks what's on their wrist, 'oh this is my medical watch."'

The watches have also been added to the training for first responders in Pinellas County.

"The quicker we can find out what's wrong with the patient, the quicker we can get them the help that they need," said St. Petersburg fire rescue program coordinator Pat Vines.

Rokowski says a friend helped her with the design and another friend helped her trademark the watch. They start at $30.

To learn more about them, visit Rokowski's website.