Emergency ID

I lost my RoadId sometime over the summer. It was the kind that attached to your shoe with velcro. I've been thinking about what to get to replace it. Whatever I get, I want to be useful to rescue workers. So I asked my brother, who is Chief of Rescue in our home town in Maine what was best, a necklace or a bracelet, or another shoe one.

He said either a necklace or bracelet was good. But that a tattoo on my belly was the best thing. :p

He also said that they never check cell phones for ICE because they could be bombs and you don't really know who is getting called.

I don't really like to wear either necklaces or bracelets, but I guess I'll have to suck it up.

V.

I had a bracelet when I was on anti coagulants last year. It was actually kind of pretty. I wouldn't have thought of getting something other than Road ID if you didn't have some weird medical condition, but if you google search for medical ID, there are some really nice silver options.

I wonder how well the new RoadID interactive works - there's a 1-800 number to call, and you can constantly update your contact info/medical info. Would be great for someone like me who has procrastinated getting one since I seem to move every year or 2.

CA

What got me thinking about it this weekend was silver's designs. I'm still pondering what I would be most comfortable wearing.

V.

Not going with the tattoo on your belly? :rolleyes: ;)

I thought really hard about the tattoo. But since my belly is so nice and flat (:rolleyes: Ha!) I didn't want to disfigure it with a tattoo. Plus if we ever move, I'd have to get it changed.

V.

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

I wonder how well the new RoadID interactive works - there's a 1-800 number to call, and you can constantly update your contact info/medical info. Would be great for someone like me who has procrastinated getting one since I seem to move every year or 2.

CA

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Mr. and I just got the interactive RoadID's. We haven't "tested" them yet, though. Hope we don't ever.

We both got the ankle bracelet. So I now wear both my silver runner's ID bracelet and the Road ID.

I was conscious when I had my wreck but I told the folks who got to me first that the info was in my bracelet in case I blacked out and then I told the EMT's when they got there too.

When Sam was killed we did not have his wife's cell phone number. That was the one number that we needed. the interactive ID doesn't have nay personal numbers on it. It has an 800 number that can be called and it has a web address. So if you were out on the streets you would have to rely on the 800 number. For me....Mr.'s cell phone number is in my silver ID bracelet. all other info can be obtained from Road ID (I hope). The contact sheet is quite comprehensive but the EMT's (first responders only get access to a limited amount) I assume that the hospital could get more of the info?

I put my doc's phone number on my RoadID, so hopefully my whole medical record is available thru that.

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

I wonder how well the new RoadID interactive works - there's a 1-800 number to call, and you can constantly update your contact info/medical info. Would be great for someone like me who has procrastinated getting one since I seem to move every year or 2.

CA

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I just purchased the Road ID interactive for this particular reason. I hated the thought of putting an address on my ankle bracelet that wouldn't be valid. That is how far I thought through that decision...

It turns out, I am really glad I got the interactive version. I can put up to 5 emergency contact persons in my file, I can tell the emergency crew what kind of medical conditions I have, it asks for your current medications, you can put up to five doctors phone numbers and information in the file, it asks for allergies, your blood type, and an option to add anything else you think is important. The EMTs/ Drs can listen to it over the phone (and it sounds very clear) or pull it up on the computer. You can also put a picture of yourself on the website too...I hate to think of the reason you would need to, but it is an option. In addition, you can put all of your health insurance information on the site. I don't know about you, but I regularly put my driver's license in my pocket, but never my insurance card.

The ankle ID is very comfortable...it has squishy foam (not too thick) and a velcro closure with reflective material on it. I forgot it was on. I chuckled after I took it off for the first time because the dye bled onto my ankle and I got the red colored ID. Almost thought I was bleeding for some reason!

I would seriously recommend you purchasing one. Go online to the website and check them out. They give you a demostration of the interactive version. And here is a coupon code for $1.00 off if you decide to get it. It is TAF5866 and this code is good through 12/31/08...so you have plenty of time to use it!

might have to consider the interactive one next.

(SKnot, the one who actually HAS allergies to meds and NEEDS the ID, promptly lost his. sheesh.)

:D SKnot gets the belly tattoo! :D Can't lose that!

Got the dog microchipped, can I do that to the kid?;)

I think i am getting the interactive road ID, one of my doctors rides all the time and he actually is who told me about it. He says they are the smartest thing since sliced bread!

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Originally Posted by luv2ride94

I think i am getting the interactive road ID, one of my doctors rides all the time and he actually is who told me about it. He says they are the smartest thing since sliced bread!

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Probably better for you than the belly tattoo ;)

ha.. I dont know i kinda like that idea :D

I'll have to look into the interactive. I don't have allergies but I do live alone with a dog. My road id has my dog walkers numbers and Spazzdog's who also has my house key and more important the key to my mutts heart and THEY have my family info. Yeah, I know, pathetic.

But people keep *&^# changing numbers, moving, changing cell phone companies and every time they do I need new roadid. :mad:

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Originally Posted by luv2ride94

ha.. I dont know i kinda like that idea :D

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:eek: teenagers!!!!! :eek:

*secretly likes the idea too*

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Originally Posted by Veronica

He also said that they never check cell phones for ICE because they could be bombs and you don't really know who is getting called.

V.

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Well, I know I live in a safe country in the upper-end corner of nowhere... but a BOMB?

Wow. :eek:

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Originally Posted by Veronica

He also said that they never check cell phones for ICE because they could be bombs and you don't really know who is getting called.

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WOW! There goes another great idea that is destroyed by a small number of very bad people!:mad: :mad: :mad:

If you have medical conditions - MedicAlert http://www.medicalert.org

Have been a member for years, got used when I was hauled to the ER after learning the hard way that I have a food allergy.

They have bracelets, necklaces, ankle bracelets. Medical professionals have access to the records you have with them - medical conditons, medications, your doctor's numbers, next of kin. There is an annual membership fee.

In my Bento box on my bike I keep a spare insurance card, my doc's office card, and somesort of ID - if I'm riding from the office I have my military ID card that I need to get back in the compound. Not exactly a phone number of next of kin, but then if *they* explored my phone - my mother's number is under "Mom". Trust me as a former EMT, exploration for ID can get rather brazen when the need arises, you just need to have the thing on your person somewhere.

Another good reason to carry ID:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pb...8012/1001/NEWS

This guy didn't have any id, but somehow the cops were able to track him down by the serial number on his ipod.

I think I'll just keep my id on my instead.

You can get a pet ID and put anything on it from a vending machine outside of most major dept. stores (I'm thinking Wally world.) They're little aluminium tags. I think it's like $5. Then you can attach them to a bracelet or anklet or shoe or whatever. Good budget option.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

So I asked my brother, who is Chief of Rescue in our home town in Maine what was best, a necklace or a bracelet, or another shoe one.

He said either a necklace or bracelet was good. But that a tattoo on my belly was the best thing. :p

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I've been wearing the necklace style RoadID when I'm riding for a while now. But on my last trip, I caught myself in the middle of the day without my id. It was on my bike (in my wallet), but that's just not good enough. So I picked up a bracelet ID, figuring that while I'm not willing to sleep with an id around my neck, I am willing to wear the bracelet ID full-time - so when I'm traveling I won't forget to wear it.

Funny, but that forgetting thing doesn't seem to happen when I'm home.

Of course I bought it before the new interactive ID was available. Next time...

--- Denise

I have the sports band style MedicAlert tag. It's a nylon band with the MedicAlert metal tag attached to it. It's more comfortable to me than wearing the full metal bracelet.

It looks like the RoadId works a lot like the MedicAlert tag- you call a number and get the full info.

I work in an ER and I highly recommend something like that. Also, always carry some ID with your picture and name on it.

When I first got my RoadID, I would forget to wear them on occasion. My solution was to wrap the bracelet around the handle bar so that I wouldn't forget. Ready to ride? The ID is on the handle bar so I put it on. After the ride, I put it back on the handle bar above the brake leve so it wouldn't slide off. I tend to misplace things so this is a good way of reminding myself.

And if I were to have multiple bikes, I would probably just go ahead and get multiple bracelets one for each bike. Having been in two major major wrecks, I can't say enough about having an ID with you.

On my first wreck, I was conscious so I could tell EMT who I was... but the information was on my bike. Bike and I were separated and they never bothered to check for information on/in my bike. It took me like two weeks to locate my bike and retrieve it. GRRR!!!

On my second wreck, where I have absolutely no memory, one of the guys I was riding with, LUCKLY remembered my home number... Again, no one bothered to check for information on my bike.

So from both experiences, I would REALLY/HIGHLY recommend that you wear your information rather than just stowing it on your bike!!

smilingcat

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Got the dog microchipped, can I do that to the kid?;)

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ummmm actually there are pilot programs being tested right now with chipping humans with their medical records.........

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Got the dog microchipped, can I do that to the kid?;)

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He he, actually, you can get the kid microchipped. There are a few companies that do it!

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Originally Posted by Eden

ummmm actually there are pilot programs being tested right now with chipping humans with their medical records.........

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But there's also evidence that the radiation from the chips can cause cancer. I don't want my medical records chipped, I just wish I did not have to fill out my entire medical lifes history at each new doctors office. :mad: Why don't they have it on file?

I have the ankle Road ID and I like it. It is really comfortable. I don't leave home without it!

Speaking of chips.... I need to get Peanut's info updated, it still says we live in Arizona.

Yeah I saw that article about possible cancers from chipping - but the study sounded a bit thin, plus there is no evidence from all of the pets being chipped that there is any large incidence of tumors at the chipping sites.
Neverthelesss.... I certainly don't plan to run out and have myself microchipped at any time, it seems a bit intrusive to me.

(also the chips in your pet and the ones they are testing on humans, I believe, are passive so they aren't putting out RF signals unless they are being scanned. I think the incidence of tumors in the study may have been more related to the chip being a foreign body)

I've pit tagged fish, and they didn't seem to have issues. But fishies generally don't live to be 80. Same tags are used in pets - which helped bring down the cost for us fisheries biologists, we were down to one company that made the chips and scanners. Got to love the laws of supply and demand.

That said, I don't want to be micro-chipped. I think that tracking ability is too George Wellian for me.

Edit - we did put a chip in someone's butt tho - involved being bored in camp, bottom of the Grand Canyon, many moons ago. I believe alcohol was also involved. I think if you ran the tag he'd come up as a Humpbacked Chub (native fish of Arizona).

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Originally Posted by Veronica

He also said that they never check cell phones for ICE because they could be bombs and you don't really know who is getting called.

I don't really like to wear either necklaces or bracelets, but I guess I'll have to suck it up.

V.

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I have the wrist one and b/c my writs and ankles are small, it'll fit either way.

Good point on the cellhones being bomb detonators and not use the ICE#'s. I always consider that w/ terrorist activity in foreign countries. jenn

strikes me that I've heard something about chipping a person's credit info into their wrist/arm area so that a person could just wave their arm over a scanner to pay for things.......

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Originally Posted by Eden

strikes me that I've heard something about chipping a person's credit info into their wrist/arm area so that a person could just wave their arm over a scanner to pay for things.......

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Yeah, well, that sounds a bit more handy than having a chip in your butt... :D :D (sorry, couldn't resist)

I'll be the first to line up to be "chipped" once we can ensure that the data is encoded to be universally read and in the same format, and that the RFID won't set off the security alarms at the mall!!!

As for the cell phone: what baloney! I have worked in seven different hospital emergency rooms and we look for ID and cell phone on ALL trauma or unconscious people. And we use ICE. "It's a bomb" rationale is ridiculous and just a scary story. It costs nothing for you to do, YES emergency workers use it and look for it, so why not? Can't hurt, might help.

More and more ERs are getting savvy to the Road IDs, but they still look for traditional ID before they inspect "jewelry" that they may or may not need to take off when they check you out. If you have a trauma team that has never seen it before, you may get it passed over (sounds dumb but it's true, your vital signs are way more important than what your anklet says).

If you can carry traditional ID *on your person,* do it. If not, Road ID is the next best thing! (I like the tattoo idea too!!!)

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

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That said, I don't want to be micro-chipped. I think that tracking ability is too George Wellian for me.
...

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I've been somewhat hesitant to say this because its tad too politcal and too sensitive but... against my better judgement here goes.

The thought of being tagged does not sit will with me.
The benefits are quite obvious so needs no explanation.

Detriment is not so obvious. The RFID can store not only your medical record, it can hold your religous affilation: Islam, Christian, Jew...
political affilation: democrat, republican, libertarian, socialist, communist...
sexual orientation: hetro, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, other...
criminal record and much much more.

The problem is not so much about the information but HOW CAN IT BE USED? AND WILL IT BE MIS-USED. You realize, Hitler used punch cards to sort and catogorize people when they were rounding up the Jews, not to mention homosexuals, and those who were considered potentially harmful to the Third Reich. They were all rounded up wih the help of the punch cards. Many young women were forcefully sterilized because the Third Reich considered them mentally unfit or too emotional.

Today it would be implanted RFID. No need for "Sir (Madam), may see your papers/document!"

So with that in mind, I would much prefer to decide when I get incinerated than when government decide its convenient to do so. Genocide will happen again. Its still going on strong in other parts of the world.

if its too offensive I will remove my post.
Smilingcat

Not offensive, but I think there's a difference between voluntary storing of one's own medical information and a government-mandated individually-inaccessible/unchangeable tagging system.

No one, I think, is advocating the latter.

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Originally Posted by lph

Yeah, well, that sounds a bit more handy than having a chip in your butt... :D :D (sorry, couldn't resist)

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I feel like I have that butt chip every time I walk into our office area. The doors have locks activated with prox cards that all employees carry. Sensor box is mounted at butt level, card is in wallet, wallet is in rear pants pocket, backing up to door/sensor opens lock. I once had a friend try to feel me up to figure out how I opened the door. Good thing she was a friend and she was feeling too high. :eek: :D

In terms of carrying ID on the bike, if your wallet fits in your pants pocket, it's very easy to transfer your wallet from your pants pocket to your jersey pocket when you ride. Then you've got all the ID, insurance cards, credit cards, cash, etc with you.

Just a little note about RFID. The medical records are not stored in the chip. Only the identifying information that gives access to the medical records located somewhere else is stored there.

That said, whoever said they would never want to be chipped because of all that scary "show me your papers" stuff....I guess we'll be disappearing off into the woods together! I started getting worried about that kind of stuff when they started being able to track your purchases at the grocery store through your shopper card, and connect it through your debit card to your bank account. (It's indirect but it's there.) When I REALLY got worried was when computers got powerful enough to manage all that data on everyone in the country just from one itty bitty laptop.

Kroger used to know when I last bought tampons. (Think China and forced birth control.) I don't use shoppers cards.

Karen, not usually conspiratorial, but why take chances?

I have the Ankle road ID and I like it. Like Smilingcat I put it on my handlebars everytime I finish a ride so its there and I don't have to look for it.
I never even notice it when its on. I've also used it in a pinch to secure my wheel from spinning on the car bike rack :D