ID for Riding?

[Madride]

My mom wants me to get some kind of ID bracelet or something to wear when I ride so that people will know who to call if I am in an accident. Do any of you wear any ID? What can I get that doesn't look totally ridiculous?

[pardes]

Aren't Moms wonderful? Did you get the warning to remember to wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident?

ID's are a very important thing to have when biking. It's also wise to have emergency contact information included with your ID.

A bracelet isn't the only way to do it. I carry a small folding wallet in a pocket. ID's won't help if they are on the bike and not on your body should an ambulance cart you away unconscious (Perish the thought).

[oxysback]

http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

These are really good. I have the ankle one. I know a lot of people here have them, also.

[Jolt]

I have a Road ID also--mine is the dog-tag one so I can just tuck it inside my shirt and it's unobtrusive. The wrist or ankle one would have bugged me, I think.

[wildhawk]

Dog tag is an excellent idea!! I usually tuck my ID into the front handlebar bag in a snack-size ziploc bag, but that does not do any good if I am separated from my bike. Where did you get the dog tag?

[ilima]

I carry my ID, $ and a laminated copy of my insurance card in a small hippie changepurse I keep in my back pocket. A friend who's a Type 1 diabetic wears an alert necklace.

[lph]

Ok, sorry if I'm asking a really dumb question here - but why is it so important to carry ID with you? I mean, I can see that it's important to carry details about allergies or illnesses you have so that you get the right medical treatment, but isn't ID and contact info more in the category of "handy to contact family afterwards?"

Or is this important for insurance purposes? We have free healthcare here so I don't know anything about that. FWIW, I do carry ID. Well, I carry a donor card with my name on it

[teigyr]

I have a Road ID that I should wear more than I do.

I figure (hopefully) that I would be taken care of even if they didn't have my insurance info though I have it in my interactive Road ID info. I like the idea of DH being notified if something happened. It's not so much that I'd like to interrupt his day but (presumably) if I couldn't speak for myself, I know he could take charge and speak for me. That and I think he'd want to know if something happened. I know if he was out riding without me, I'd want a call if he were injured.

[Kalidurga]

From the time I was old enough to go out of the house by myself, it was drilled into my head that you always carry id and money for a phone call. I've got the RoadID bracelet and wear it any time I go cycling, kayaking or hiking. If you go to the RoadID website (oxysback provided the link above), they list a lot of valid reasons for wearing/carrying id. For instance, if you have certain drug allergies or medical conditions, it could be life-saving for an EMS technician to know this before treating you.

I've actually been thinking of getting one of the new interactive versions so that I can include a note that I have two cats at home and that whoever finds me should contact my pet sitter. It's one thing if my family doesn't know for days that I'm in a coma in the hospital, but it really bothers me to think that no one would be feeding my kittehs.

[lph]

Oh definitely, if you live alone with kids or pets I understand that it's important they get attention if you don't come home. But since I don't have any allergies or specific medical conditions I consider ID and contact info more of a nice gesture towards my family than vital. I'm assuming I'll get the same medical treatment whether they know my name or not.
Or doesn't that apply in the US where you have health insurance? Just curious.

Another thing struck me - Oslo isn't that big, so if I did land in hospital I'd be pretty easy to find, there are only 3 likely ones I'd be in.

[teigyr]

Kalidurga - I agree about the kitties. Before DH when I used to travel, the cats were my one concern if something should happen. I'd always tell the pet sitter/feeder that I would notify them when I got back, just in case I wasn't back by the expected date. That and who would notice (not to be morbid but my parents are in another state) within a few days?

I like the interactive version. We travel a LOT and I like the fact I can change the local contact info as it changes. I don't always do that...but I like the option that I can.

And you KNOW that cats get really whiny if they aren't fed

[teigyr]

LPH, what if you needed someone from your family to speak for you?

I guess that's my feeling about it all. That and courtesy to loved ones. I worked in an emergency room way back when and my feeling is a trauma hospital won't turn anyone away and if it's something long lasting, they'd figure out who you were before they'd deny you.

I don't always wear my Road ID. I really tend to think nothing will happen though when I was going through some cardiologist testing and they weren't sure if I had a problem or not, I did wear it. I could only imagine if DH went out for a short ride (or run, in my case) and didn't show up when I thought he would. I know he'd get proper medical care no matter what they thought about insurance but I would want to be notified immediately.

Maybe I've seen too many episodes of Six Feet Under but I think the most tragic thing is for something life threatening or fatal to happen and the next of kin to have no idea. Either that or the people handling the trauma case have no idea who the person is. I know one day (I'm rambling, granted) I was talking to DH as he was on his way home from work. I had to go and said I'd call in an hour or so. When I did, he didn't answer the phone. Turns out, he fell asleep on the couch. I had to be at work for five hours thinking, hmmm, it's EARLY. Did he make it home? Did something happen at home? Did he get in a car accident?

I know I'm easily worried but I don't think I obsess over it. If something were to happen to my parents or a family member, I'd want to know. I would hope that if something happened to me, the above-mentioned people would want to know. This is, of course, is in the worst case scenario.

[lph]

You can get turned away from a trauma room??? Sorry, spoilt welfare-state'ee speaking. The thought hadn't crossed my mind.

Re being spoken for I carry my organ donor card, because it's important to me to convey that information fast, that I want to donate anything that can be used.

But yeah, rethinking I think the best reason for me to carry ID is plain courtesy for my family's sake, in case I'm in a coma and my injuries are life-threatening. It would make no difference to me but it would be better for them to be able to see me before I died.

Sorry for being morbid

[Kalidurga]

I don't think it's morbid at all. It's pragmatic.

"Organ donor" is one of the other things mentioned on my RoadID, you're right that that's important. Oh, and I went to the local outdoor store and bought a cooler-looking wristband for my id. Wanted to be coordinated with all my outdoorsy clothes and gear, y'know.

[Becky]

The Road ID suggestion is a really good one. DH wears one. He says that he doesn't even notice it once it's on. I have an interactive medic alert bracelet that I never take off, so I'm covered there.

ID in a seat bag or pocket can be helpful, but I've heard that EMTs won't go through your stuff looking for ID. (Can anyone confirm or deny this?) Better to wear the ID where it can't be missed (wrists or neck) IMO. The insurance card and driver's license are good backup though, and I carry copies of both in my seatbag.

Kalidurga- good point about the pets! I need to make sure that our emergency contacts all have keys to our house. Thanks for reminding me!