Road ID Elite

[LilBolt]

I have issues with anything on my wrists...I can't wear watches, bracelets. Even though you said you prefer the wrist band, you really may want to rethink and try the ankle version. I've always found it to be 'forgettably' comfortable, but I do wear it over my ankle-high socks. Keep us posted on what you learn.

[Catrin]

I have issues with anything on my wrists...I can't wear watches, bracelets. Even though you said you prefer the wrist band, you really may want to rethink and try the ankle version. I've always found it to be 'forgettably' comfortable, but I do wear it over my ankle-high socks. Keep us posted on what you learn.

I've been told by EMT folks that they automatically look at wrists rather than ankles for such things...so I want to go the wrist route if at all possible. I have enough odd health issues that I don't want them to miss it.

added: It also might help if I keep it as loose as possible

[LilBolt]

"I've been told by EMT folks that they automatically look at wrists rather than ankles"

Ahhh...that's good to know!

[mariacycle]

I could be completely off but I was telling a friend about how I wanted to get a Road ID and he told me that the EMTs will still automatically look in your bag/panier/pockets for a wallet with ID (regardless of wrist identification) so I ended up saying "well I always carry my actual ID so no use spending the extra money on another..."

Again, not saying this is hard fact. Just an opinion I recently heard.

[MartianDestiny]

I could be completely off but I was telling a friend about how I wanted to get a Road ID and he told me that the EMTs will still automatically look in your bag/panier/pockets for a wallet with ID (regardless of wrist identification) so I ended up saying "well I always carry my actual ID so no use spending the extra money on another..."

Again, not saying this is hard fact. Just an opinion I recently heard.

I don't think this is necessarily true (I've heard and seen EMTs not do this), and I, for one, am not willing to bet my life on it (even if I DO keep the real things in my bike bag).

Yea, if you broke your collar bone and are maybe a little dazed they may take the time to look, but I seriously doubt they are going to go digging through bike bags if you are in a life and death situation. A purse or similar (what someone would be carrying if not participating in an athletic activity) can be picked up and thrown in the ambulance to be gone through later, A bike cannot.

A GOOD cop may sort through it after the fact and send it on, but at that point the medics have spent valuable time without info. If it is a road accident there is likely a criminal investigation, NO ONE will touch the bike until the cops have fully documented everything (and the ambulance will be long gone by then). I've witnessed this. EMT's couldn't have cared less about the bike (or possible ID on it) and no one touched it for a good 30 minutes (and even then they picked it up and laid it on the side of the road to clear for traffic without really looking at it).

If I'm dying I don't want them to need to go hunting for information that may or may not be there. There's also the added benefit of being able to provide information that's not typically on a card in your wallet (emergency contact numbers, known allergies, known conditions, etc.) in addition to the typically available name/address/insurance.

I'm not sure why anyone would steer someone away from a $20 investment that could save their life. Potential overkill in some situations or not.

[roadie gal]

I've been told by EMT folks that they automatically look at wrists rather than ankles for such things...so I want to go the wrist route if at all possible. I have enough odd health issues that I don't want them to miss it.

added: It also might help if I keep it as loose as possible

How about a MedicAlert tag if you have other medical problems? I have a MedicAlert sports band. It's a nylon band with a plastic clip. The tag itself is metal, but the band is between you and the tag.

As an ER doc, I HIGHLY recommend some wearable ID, whether it's a Road ID or MedicAlert tag. The whole reason for wearing something like that is if you're incapacitated and can't give any info. If you have a head injury, the paramedics are going to scoop and go, not spend time looking through your stuff to find ID. The police might, but who knows how long that will take. I would go with a wrist band over the ankle, which might get cut off with your clothing. The necklace would be a close second. The shoe tag has a good chance of getting lost and not seen.

[Catrin]

How about a MedicAlert tag if you have other medical problems?

I already have the regular Road ID - nothing metallic touches my skin. I was just considering upgrading to their nicer version - but that one DOES have metal that touches - and plastic causes me problems as well. I think the regular one will be fine as long as I keep it loose enough - I didn't realize how tight I had it.