Personal Identification in an Emergency

I have dog tags, but they're military...not the right kind. Been planning on getting the
"road ID" type bracelet so I don't have to carry my wallet. You know, get ride of the weight penalty.

 

I made a two-sided credit-card sized paper with a list of meds & dosages and past major medical events on one side; other side has name, home/work addresses, contact numbers, and a large red cross with "MEDICAL ALERT ON BACKSIDE." Laminated it. Keep copies in bags on bikes and in wallet. The large red cross is first thing usually seen and I'm told by EMS people can be a life saving alert.

 

I normally ride with my wallet so my driver's license info is there. I also have ICE in my cell phone. Finally I did what
Dave did and laminated some business size cards with my emergency info on them. I keep one in my bike bag at all times.

 

It depends on the type of ride and where I'm at.

• I always have a state issued ID (non drivers license) with me when riding. I guess this would be listed as "OTHER"
• I always wear a Road ID (wrist type) with medical info and contact numbers when riding.
• Most times times I have my cell phone with ICE as one of my contacts. The only reason I don't have my phone is because I forgot it. I don't live with my phone attached to my ear. Frequently when I go to use it, it has a low battery since I have not used it in days and forgot to charge it. That brings up another issue, emergency power supplies for cell phones while out on the bike, but I digress.
• If I'm running errands and will be shopping I will have my wallet.

As a former medical worker with many hours in the ER, I suggest anyone thinking about a wearable ID to get either a wrist or necklace type for a couple reasons:

1. Medical personal are trained to look for bracelets and necklaces for medical information.
2. Frequently shoes are lost at a crash scene. I can't tell you how many times I saw crash (MVA) victims arrive at the Emergency Room with one or both shoes missing. With clipless systems a bike crash can result in with the shoes being attached to the bike when the rider is tossed somewhere else.

Gary

 

No because of what you said. Besides blood type they are also looking at other things that can make or break a blood match. Thus the term "Type and Cross Match"

ER staff does not care, it is the Lab that does the blood typing and matching and they have to go in blind so not to skew the results.

Gary

 

We will be getting some really nice ICE identifier bracelets in the shop. These are lightweight, comes in three colors has a big red cross on it and has a USB built in. You hook it to your computer and a tiny program opens up and you fill out as much as little medical information you want and then exit. The information stays there nice and safe and is with you around your wrist when you ride. Its water proof too. If anything happens the medical people just need to hook it to their computers and wah-lah they have your medical illnesses, allergies, contact information etc. etc. and its all clear an legible. I can't wait to get one.

 

The only problem can I see is the hospital maybe leery of plugging in a flash drive of an unknown source, because of viruses, spyware, trojan horse, unknown programs like the one you enter your info with, etc. The only way they may use it, is if the computer they are plugging it into is not attached to the hospital network. The hospitals I worked at were very strict about using flash drives that employees used at home, in other words I was not permitted to load a file on a flash drive at home and plug it into a hospital computer that was on the network. If the flash drive was used only within the hospital, or the computer was not on the network that was fine.

Other then that, it sounds like a good idea.

Gary

 

I carry my wallet. Same as driving a car.

As for the number to call in case of an emergency I hope whoever finds me on the roadside already knows it - but just in case they don't i have a card in my wallet that says "in case of an emergency call 911"

 

After reading this thread again, I realized the importance of having my information quickly available in case of an accident. I currently ride with my wallet and I also have emergency card in my bike bag. I have ICE on my cell phone too. But was it enough???

So I went and purchased a RoadID bracelet. It is very well made and has all my info and my contact info on it. I plan to wear it every time I ride.

Good thread. Thanks for making this a higher priority in my riding.