A new rule adopted by Utah's Bureau of Emergency Medical Services allows a "do not resuscitate" order to be added to a medical alert bracelet.

The order must be requested by a physician or a terminally ill patient. Having the notification ensures that a patient's wishes are followed, since emergency responders will initiate CPR or other measures unless they see a no-resuscitation order.

"It is a legal way for choices to be recognized and honored by anyone who might be terminally ill in clarifying and legalizing their wishes to their loved ones and EMS responders," said Don Wood, who manages the Do Not Resuscitate Program for the EMS bureau.

"They may have those wishes, but if they don't go through these steps, paramedics and EMTs face a quandary of what to do."

The program previously recognized only orders contained on vinyl, hospital-type wristbands or the order itself, Wood said.

"This seems to be a workable alternative to that hospital-type thing," he said. "People seemed to want something more aesthetically pleasing."

Patients now can choose between the wristband or a metal bracelet or necklace that contains their information and the no-resuscitation order. Utah signed an agreement with Medic Alert, a nonprofit organization that specializes in medical identification devices.

The Utah Department of Health has organized a "Safety Stand Down" event at 1 p.m. today to teach emergency responders about the new rule.

For more information, visit www.health.utah.gov/ems or call (801) 538-6287.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D2.