Is keeping a red allergy morphine tag in my combat boot authorized?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:06:22 -0400

For two years I’ve had a Red allergy morphine tag in my combat boot and for the first time today was told it wasn’t authorized by a SFC. Can anyone confirm or deny this and if so, could you provide me with the regulation so I can properly educate myself

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2022 1:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:26:43 -0400

Can you identify a regulation that allows it? You're not going to find everything you're not allowed to do in a regulation.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Sep 16 at 2022 1:32 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:32:20 -0400

So the SFC is saying tags in the boot arent allowed or are they saying red tags aren’t allowed?

Chapter 14 goes over everything regarding the Army issuing medical warning tags

https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r40_66.pdf

r40_66.pdf

Response by COL Randall C. made Sep 16 at 2022 1:41 PM

COL Randall C. — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 13:41:24 -0400

Standard uniform regulation - AR 670-1. The wearing of dog tags on boots dates back to World War II (maybe earlier), and is properly called a Medical Warning Tag (MWT). The original instructions (from a now defunct AR 40-15) stated that they would be laced into the left boot between the 2nd and 3rd eyelet (and tucked into the leather flap).

The wear of Medical Warning Tags is detailed in AR 40-66 (Medical Record Administration and Health Care Documentation) which is the 'down the line' successor to AR 40-15. The MWT is worn around your neck like regular dog tags.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Sep 16 at 2022 3:24 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:24:27 -0400

As SFC Private RallyPoint Member has mentioned, you'll need to find an AR/rule/policy that allows it rather than something saying you can't. AR 670-1 is a good place to start. There should be a section that covers authorized medical devices while in uniform. It's been a while since I dealt with "things, Army, 1ea" so I don't know exactly what chapter you'd need to reference. Worst case, talk to your Military Health Provider. He/she may know the applicable regulations regarding the wear of medical alert pendants.

Worst case, take it off your boot and hang it on the chain with your regular dog tags. Medical personnel (such as myself) automatically look for bracelets, necklaces, etc for medical alerts before administering emergency care.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2022 5:22 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 17:22:06 -0400

Let's walk through the reason to wear a med tag on your boot. To be blunt, your dog tag makes sense on your boot for that rare occasion they cannot find the upper half of you. Any medical tag is quite useless at this point. Now, if you lose the foot due to an IED or land mine or similar the only med tag that will still be useful is the one around your neck. So, my question would be why would you want the med tag on your boot?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 18 at 2022 6:43 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 06:43:20 -0400

As stated, it is up to the “offender” to prove something is authorized, as opposed to those challenging the issue at hand.