Road ID for my kid - blood type?

[zoom-zoom]

I'm planning to order one of those slim wrist IDs for my 10 year old son, since he rides so much on the tandem with my hubby. It would be a good idea to have his blood type on the plate, but I'm not sure off-hand what his type is. I assume his pediatrician would have it...but maybe not. Or maybe he was never typed? That first year of his life was such a fog that I don't remember whether or not we were even told his type, heh.

[kmehrzad]

I was riding with a nurse once and he said don't bother putting your blood type on the Road ID since they 'type' the patient anyway. This is just something I've heard ....

[Blueberry]

I asked my doc by type for emergencies, and she said the same thing: they will type you anyway and it's instantaneous, so don't bother. Just what I heard

[limewave]

Your pediatrician should definitely have that info. Seems like they get all that when they are newborns.

We have Road ID's for both our kids (2 and 5). We use them whenever we go someplace where it is crowded or whenever we travel--just in case we get separated.

[sfa]

I remember that they told me my kids' blood type in the hospital when they were newborns, so your pediatrician should have that information. If not, don't bother; as others have said, they would run this test anyway for any patient seeking treatment.

[zoom-zoom]

We have Road ID's for both our kids (2 and 5). We use them whenever we go someplace where it is crowded or whenever we travel--just in case we get separated.

That's really smart! I like the slim ones, too, since they are kind of like the Livestrong bracelets and he could wear it all the time.

OK, so I guess the blood type isn't necessary. We'll just worry about the specific drug/allergy issues and contact info, then.

[FlyingScot]

ER nurse here. Blood type is totally unnecessary. We "type and cross" any trauma patient that comes in regardless of information provided on wallet cards or any ID/medical bracelet. If the patient needs immediate blood they are given O negative blood which is the universal donor type (we call it trauma blood). Medications, food or medicine allergies and significant past medical history are all that we need. Well, that and contact info.