Don't forget to bring ID!

[ny biker]

This is very sad, for a number of reasons:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/police-identify-woman-fatally.html

A woman was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while jogging in DC on on Saturday. She had no identification on her, so it took a while for the police to identify her.

This has me thinking that when I go out for long walks, I bring my cell phone, which could be used to identify me, but I don't carry my drivers license or other ID card. I have a Road ID for when I'm riding my bike, but I think I'll get a second one for taking walks. www.roadid.com

[HillSlugger]

I wear my RoadID for rides and runs. I usually have at least a copy of my driver's license and insurance card with me, too.

[MartianDestiny]

Very sad.

My roadid (with name, DOB, relevant phone numbers, and insurance info) goes on my wrist with my watch every morning.

[OakLeaf]

Driver's license, insurance card, credit card, and organ donor card. They live in a little herb-sized plastic bag that goes right into the bill slot of my purse when I'm not riding or running. There's room in the bag for my phone, too, to keep the sweat off it. Jersey pocket, SpiBelt on short runs, hydration vest on longer ones. Always.

[Bike Chick]

I wear my RoadID on bike rides and runs. I also have a laminated copy of my driver's license with important contact info on the back that I carry in my bike bag.

[withm]

This is very sad, for a number of reasons:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/police-identify-woman-fatally.html

A woman was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while jogging in DC on on Saturday. She had no identification on her, so it took a while for the police to identify her.

This has me thinking that when I go out for long walks, I bring my cell phone, which could be used to identify me, but I don't carry my drivers license or other ID card. I have a Road ID for when I'm riding my bike, but I think I'll get a second one for taking walks. www.roadid.com

I just talked to my sister. The "unidentified" jogger was my sister's manager at work. She said it took some time for the identification to be made, and of course the office is just in shock......

[KnottedYet]

I'm so sorry, withm.

What a tragic event for your sister and her coworkers and for the woman's family.

[MommyBird]

So sad to hear stories like this poor lady's. We all know how vulnerable we are on the road.

I keep a copy of my drivers license in my seat pack with a $5 bill.
I can't remember if I have the insurance card.

I planned to get Road IDs for the entire family for Christmas but never made the final purchase. I created them for all four of us but could not decide on the strap style and wanted to make sure everyone was happy with the data and when I went back to tweak them they were gone! Why do some sites save your cart forever and others clear it instantly?

Which band is better...The Velcro Sport or the Rubber Elite?

I am leaning towards the Elite because it comes in all of our family's color codes. Dave=Green, Drew=Blue, Nick=Orange and me=pink. I may go purple since pink rubber gets nasty.

I worry about my boys because the boat house is not in the best part of town. They do their warm-up run in a rough area. I sure keeps a mom praying!
Not too long ago a female adult rower was robbed on her run. I am not sure why one would think it would be lucrative to rob a jogger but this fellow did. Thankfully it was just a robbing.

[Tri Girl]

oh, no...that is truly tragic! Withm- our thoughts are with your sister and her coworkers. So terribly sad... I'm heartbroken for them all. :( Also with the other pedestrian fatality on that day.


My Road ID never comes off. I'm always aware of the "what if." I don't want my family to wonder if I don't come back from a workout (or any other activity).

[KnottedYet]

I keep a copy of my drivers license in my seat pack with a $5 bill.


The first responders are not likely to go through your seat bag, and your bike and seat bag are not likely to go with you to the hospital. I'm glad you are planning to get Road ID!

[Tri Girl]

MommyBird- I have both the velcro band and the rubber elite band. I like both. I wear the rubber elite band every day. The velcro band was sportier, but not as professional for wearing to work. No matter what kind you buy- buy them NOW!

[Grog]

Withm, I am truly sorry to hear about your sister's lost...

I wear my roadid whenever I'm running or cycling or traveling on my own for that matter. I am tempted to get an elite version for more casual wearing. Does the black stay nice-looking for a while?

I've outfitted my husband and father-in-law with their own roadid, too...

[shootingstar]

That is awful. But probably happens more often than we realize. _______________________________________________________________

Whenever I leave on the bike or go for a walk beyond 2 blocks, I carry ID, health card, credit card, and keys.

No matter how dinky the bike ride is, I carry all of the above with me. Always have when on bike.
_______________________________________________________________
Allow me to describe accident that happened to dearie 2 wks. ago, when he fell down after another cyclist collided into him ...only 6 blocks away from home.

Dearie was unconscious for probably at least half an hr. He has no memory of being bundled up into the ambulance ..which coincidentally there was an ambulance just sitting down the block from the accident. Maybe a break during the Olympics. Cyclist alerted the ambulance which packed up dearie AND his bike into the ambulance and whipped over hospital about less than 8-10 min. away.

I didn't know about this..until he came home. but the hospital offered him to phone me on his behalf. He refused. :confused: He said he didn't want "to worry me". He always carries his ID, etc. like I do. He has some accidents that have happened in the past.

Geez. You know, he was at the hospital, about a 20 min. bike ride away. I know, this is a different problem.

Grog, now that you have outfitted the 2 physicians in the family..... a sign that the most competent have to be reminded also.

[TryingisDying]

I love my road ID...I can wrap it around my wrist when I run or I wrap it around my handlebars when I ride. I don't want someone trying to figure out who I am if I drop dead or get hit/hurt/killed.....

[OakLeaf]

Wow.....

withm, so sorry about your sister's manager.

Shootingstar, wow, make sure your SO takes all the head injury precautions for the next few weeks... hoping he makes a full recovery.

[Becky]

Which band is better...The Velcro Sport or the Rubber Elite?


The Elite is nicer IMO- doesn't get stinky and need a bath. On the other hand, the Elite band has to be cut to fit, and might not be a good choice for someone who's still growing.

Be very careful cutting the Elite band- it's easy to cut too much! (Ask me how I know...:o)

[Tri Girl]

I've only been wearing my elite band for about 7 months, but the black hasn't changed color at all (and I wear it 24 hrs a day). I almost cut too much off mine when I got it. Yes- be careful.

Be safe out there, everyone!

Shootingstar- glad dearie will be OK. Speedy recovery vibes coming his way.

[Catrin]

withm, so sorry to read about this.

Ok, I will get my RoadID now I keep putting it off due to not making up my mind whether to get the regular or the other id where they keep electronic information. I am thinking an emergency responder might appreciate not having to make a phone call for information...

[MartianDestiny]

I love my road ID...I can wrap it around my wrist when I run or I wrap it around my handlebars when I ride. I don't want someone trying to figure out who I am if I drop dead or get hit/hurt/killed.....

You might consider leaving it on your wrist on the bike too. Emergency personnel won't check your bike for ID information, and it's possible your bike could end up a reasonable distance away from you. The bike almost certainly won't make the trip to the hospital with you and they may not even start really looking for ID and next of kin information until then.

[Becky]

I am thinking an emergency responder might appreciate not having to make a phone call for information...

This is actually a pretty commonly-used technique. Medic Alert has been doing it for 50+ years, and it allows EMTs to get more info about you than will fit on a tiny bracelet.

If you just need ID, the regular will probably suffice. If, like me, you have a more....uhhh....complicated....health history, the electronic might not be such a bad idea. I have my Medic Alert # engraved on a standard Road ID, so I get the best of both worlds.

Either way, something is better than nothing!

[Catrin]

This is actually a pretty commonly-used technique. Medic Alert has been doing it for 50+ years, and it allows EMTs to get more info about you than will fit on a tiny bracelet.

If you just need ID, the regular will probably suffice. If, like me, you have a more....uhhh....complicated....health history, the electronic might not be such a bad idea. I have my Medic Alert # engraved on a standard Road ID, so I get the best of both worlds.

Either way, something is better than nothing!

Shows you how much I know about such things :) I do have a more...complicated...health profile than I once did, so perhaps the electronic route would be the best way to go. Thanks!

[nscrbug]

The "electronic" or "regular" RoadID debate has been hashed out many times on a triathlon forum that I frequent. There also happens to be several EMT's that post on that forum, and all of them stated that it would be very unlikely that an EMT (or any other emergency responder) would stop everything to make a phone call for more info...especially in a critical situation. They all suggested to go with the regular WRIST band, as that is the spot most likely to be checked first...yes, the wrist/ankle/shoe/dogtag ID thing was also debated.

[MommyBird]

The "electronic" or "regular" RoadID debate has been hashed out many times on a triathlon forum that I frequent. There also happens to be several EMT's that post on that forum, and all of them stated that it would be very unlikely that an EMT (or any other emergency responder) would stop everything to make a phone call for more info...especially in a critical situation. They all suggested to go with the regular WRIST band, as that is the spot most likely to be checked first...yes, the wrist/ankle/shoe/dogtag ID thing was also debated.

OK, it is good to know the EMT's suggested location.
Now..what is the most helpful information to include on the tag?

Is there already a "What's on your Road ID?" thread.
If not, maybe we should start one.

[marni]

Well, I always wear a road id, carry a wallet with a copy of my drivers license, insurance, ec., my bike wears my old road id and I carry a cell phone with my husband listed as the first voice dial, and as my ICE (in case of emergency) number. Unfortunately, the paramedics, police etc here around Houston don't seem to have figured this out. The last accident back in end of January, was a head hit, I was unconscious, have no member of the accident, the ambulance, the first ER where they sewed up my arm and did a ct scan and then decided to send me to the neuro center downtown. Apparently I came to as they were loading me into the second ambulance and managed to focus enough to give them my husbands' name and the company he works for before I passed out again. No memory of the 40 minute trip downtown, or subsequent er room until I came to and found Phil at my side, having been there for several hours, met with the drs. and he informed me that they were waiting to see if the bleed had stopeed so they could decide whether or not they had to operate. I was fairly clear in the periods I was awaked and focused after that, it all goes to show that even with road id, you need informed others who know to look for it . Short of tattoing a comment to that effect on my forehead, I'm not sure what else to do short of always riding with others who know the routine which is not always an option in my case.

marni

[Tri Girl]

On the RoadID site they suggest some things to put on there.
Here's what's on mine if you're interested as an example.

First and last name, year of birth
city, state and home phone with area code (we travel fairly often and something could happen when I'm out of town)
husband's name and his cell phone #
asthmatic, NKA, NKDA (no known allergies, no known drug allergies)
blood type, organ donor


My last line is personal: it says: Catholic- call a priest. If I'm dying I'd like my last rites at least. Morbid, but it's how I'd want my last moments to be taken care of.

If you have more medical history, you may want to include more pertinent info. You can have 6 lines of info.

[zoom-zoom]

They all suggested to go with the regular WRIST band, as that is the spot most likely to be checked first...yes, the wrist/ankle/shoe/dogtag ID thing was also debated.

The wrist is the place an EMT will check, since that's where people wear medic-alert bracelets.

Also, the shoe models are not reliable...reason is that with a hard enough impact a person's shoes can go flying. I know it sounds insane, but a friend of mine was hit while running and BOTH shoes were thrown from his body. He's very lucky to have survived that.

I have the Elite. Love it. Wear it for running and biking. I have 2 bands...one that fits nice on my bare wrist and one for winter that fits over bulkier long-sleeves.

I also have the first strap that I over-trimmed...that really honked me off. :rolleyes:

[TryingisDying]

You might consider leaving it on your wrist on the bike too. Emergency personnel won't check your bike for ID information, and it's possible your bike could end up a reasonable distance away from you. The bike almost certainly won't make the trip to the hospital with you and they may not even start really looking for ID and next of kin information until then.

Great advice.....I think I will do that! Thanks!!

[lph]

I checked out another discussion and saw several EMTs say - don't bother with blood type, because they will give you universal type O anyway (until they've checked for themselves), and also that medical information is the important part. Obviously it's important to know about allergies, especially to medications, and pre-existing medical conditions.

But it makes me wonder - is it important to know that someone is NOT allergic to something? Or is that assumed by default?

[Becky]

...all of them stated that it would be very unlikely that an EMT (or any other emergency responder) would stop everything to make a phone call for more info...especially in a critical situation.

I don't expect an EMT to call while on-scene, but it's appropriate for the hospital to call once the patient is stable. My info is lengthy enough that I don't want to trust it to 6 lines on a bracelet. The critical stuff is on there, so the EMTs know what they're dealing with upfront. The rest is just icing for the hospital staff...