A medical information service that will allow first responders to access medical information during an emergency will be offered to students, faculty and staff beginning May 15.

InvisibleBracelet, also known as iB, is an online emergency planning service where people can input up to 10 in-case-of-emergency contacts and vital medical information they feel is important to an emergency situation, said Nick Key, OU Information Technology spokesman.

The program provides people with a membership card that allows emergency responders to discover a patient’s medical needs and to reach his or her emergency contacts, according to the iB website.

The service is offered by Docvia, an Oklahoma-based company, Key said.

Natalie Brown, online marketing director of iB, said OU is purchasing the service for both students and undergrads. Since OU is the first university to sign on, Docvia is offering the service to OU employees at no cost for the first year, she said. Dependents can be added at $3 per person.

Brown said the program was a natural fit to partner with OU.

“A college town fluctuates with students who are coming and going, and iB enables medics to have important medical information on patients they know nothing about during an emergency,” Brown said. “That’s a feature that many parents of college kids can feel good about.”

Devon Carnesciali, University College freshman, said she knows people with major medical issues who actually wear bracelets with their medical information, but she thinks the medical system would be great for people who do not have these.

Although other state universities have shown interest in the company, Brown said, OU has been progressive about getting students on the iB system as soon as possible.

Key said OU’s involvement with the system began when OU President David Boren learned about invisibleBracelet and asked OU IT to help implement the service at all three OU campuses.

While the university is collaborating with Docvia to offer iB, the service is voluntary, Key said.

All data entered will remain confidential, and only the member and emergency responders providing treatment or transport can access it, he said.

Key said OU IT is working with Docvia to set up a special registration page for OU’s Norman, Health Sciences Center and Tulsa campuses that will allow OU students, faculty and staff at all three campuses to sign up for iB for free.

OU IT hopes to complete the technical preparations in the coming weeks, he said,

Once the service is available, Key said, the university will publicize the service through back-to-school check in, oZONE and account creation, among others.

To become a member of iB, interested persons must register at www.invisibleBracelet.org. Once registration is complete, iB will mail a package of identification materials including a card and sticker, Key said.

Members should place their card behind their driver’s license, since emergency responders are trained to look for a driver’s license, according to the program’s website.

Key said in the event of a medical emergency, responding paramedics within the service can access the person’s information.

If an iB member is transported to the hospital, iB will send a text, e-mail or phone message to the person’s emergency contacts, he said.

“IB is a safe, simple and inexpensive way to make sure emergency responders know who you are, what your medical needs are and how to instantly notify your emergency contacts if you are transported by ambulance,” Key said.

Program memberships are $5 for non-OU students, faculty and staff.

For more information, visit invisibleBracelet.org.