For a few years now, customers from the Fountain City have been
coming in to Tattoo Tommy's on Victory Drive to get tattoos listing their
identification and medical history.
Donie Schrecengost with the tattoo parlor says, "They're
tattoos saying their ailments they have or their illnesses they carry with them
being, do not resuscitate if found in certain conditions, blood types,
religions."
The tattoos have also been known to list allergies and diseases
and are especially popular with soldiers.
Donny says much like an Army dog tag, the soldiers call them meat
tags.
The tattoo is meant to identify and aide, or have the body
disposed of, in the way the person would wish.
"They usually put them like I told you in the pit area under
their arm so that you could see them if something happened. Lots of military
guys get them, if they're out on the battlefield and they get shot or blown up
usually that spot is left behind where they can see that."
While the trend is growing for both civilians and soldiers, some
soldiers News Leader 9 spoke with did not agree with the idea.
Caleb Oberrath says, "I don't agree with it, if you're hurt
in a car accident no one is going to be taking your shirt off in the middle to
see what you're allergic too." Justin Thompson added, "I think it
makes a lot of sense to an extent but at the same time I think it could hurt
somebody at the same time.
If someone doesn't agree with that person or doesn't like that
person then it could end up ultimately hurting that person."
Copyright 2012 WTVM. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTVM, a Raycom Media Station.
