TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 10, 2012) -

Editors Note: There is a photo and a PDF associated with this press release.

Calling future fashionistas and designers!

The Canadian MedicAlert Foundation is asking students to help make back-to-school health safety stylish by entering a contest to design a new MedicAlert sports band. In addition to the ultimate prize - being prepared for medical emergencies - the winning design will be featured for sale at www.MedicAlert.ca.

"Parents of children with medical conditions don't usually need to be told about the importance of emergency preparedness - they already know. The kids can be a different story," says Canadian MedicAlert Foundation president and CEO Robert Ridge. "For various reasons, maybe they're embarrassed, maybe they're confused about how to protect themselves - or maybe they just think they're invincible - kids can resist safety measures. This contest allows us to raise awareness on the importance of being in control of your health by getting our kids involved in a fun way."

Ridge adds that more than 65,000 Canadian students (age 14 and under) are protected with a MedicAlert membership, so that they have a constant companion to be their voice when it matters most. Nut and drug allergies are the number one reasons students have a MedicAlert membership, followed closely by asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.

To enter the contest:

Parents and teachers can visit www.MedicAlert.ca to download the Make School Safety Stylish kids' pack, which includes safety tips to share with kids and the Design Contest Template.

Entries are being accepted now until September 28. The contest is free to enter and open to students aged five to fourteen.

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