Road I'D - Compare & Contrast

[tiffj]

I have the wrist ID elite as well, and very happy with the security it provides.

[Mr. Bloom]

I'm an ankle wearer. Agree with earlier comments that shoe ID's and Dog Tags are at risk of separation from your body in bad incidents.

I'll add one more comfort consideration:

• I developed a persistent ring worm where I typically wore mine
• Shame on me for not washing it ( I never thought to)
• So now I alternate ankles, wash it regularly, and try to wrap it around my sock rather than directly on my skin

I'm really sorry for the loss of your friend

[Becky]

Non-interactive Wrist ID Elite here, engraved with my Medic Alert account info. DH wears the non-interactive Wrist ID Sport.

[pinkbikes]

HTFU?

All confused

HTFU? HTFU = Harden The F**k Up

- often preceded by "take a cup of concrete and..."
- and the polite company alternate is TUP = Toughen Up Princess

I have a bunch of HTFU temporary tattoos I use on my forearm to look at during races to remind myself to put that extra bit in.

[buffybike]

I've got the wrist one with a yellow strap. When I got hit by a car, a witness used my Road ID to contact my husband--then gave it to the police who also used it to tell my husband which hospital the ambulance was taking me to. Very glad I had it on.

[pll]

Just this summer, I decided to get the ankle version (original, not 'interactive'), which I wear around my socks. I also use it while jogging. The tag can be affixed to an ankle band or a wristband, so you could get a spare band.

I went with the plain one because of (a) privacy reasons (leaving personal information on yet another server); and (b) there's nothing really special about my health profile.

About "HTFU", I believe Stuart O'Grady was wearing the "inspirational" wristband a few years ago, sold by an Aussie comedian: http://store.ronniejohns.com/?show_product=HTFU

[roadie gal]

I'm an ER doc. Here are my suggestions:

I'd go with the wrist band over the others. Anything attached to your clothing may be lost if the paramedics have to cut your clothes off. The dog tags may also be lost the same way. Honestly, your ankles don't get looked at until much later unless you have a leg injury. So we might miss the ankle band for a while.

If you don't have any serious medical problems then the regular type of Road ID is fine. Put your name and as many contact numbers as you can fit. Dont' worry about blood type. We'll type and cross you if you need it. Forget the pithy statements. Instead put in another contact number. DO put in any allergies you have.

If you do have serious/complicated medical problems or if you are on a bunch of medications, then get the interactive ID or a MedicAlert tag. The paramedics won't have time to contact them, but we will in the ER. Make sure you keep the MedicAlert or Road ID people updated if your meds/condition change. It doesn't help you if we can only access old info.

Remember, these id's are for a time when you can't speak for yourself. You want to be identified and you want us to know the most important stuff about you and who to get ahold of.

I have accessed MedicAlert for some of my patients. It's an invaluable resource. (As yet, I haven't had to do it with a Road ID.)

FWIW, I have a pacemaker. I wear a MedicAlert sports band when I swim, bike or run. I also have a regular wrist bracelet and a dog tag necklace. I wear one or the other when I'm out and about and especially when I'm out of the area where all of the cops and paramedics know me.

[pll]

I'm an ER doc. Here are my suggestions:

I'd go with the wrist band over the others. Anything attached to your clothing may be lost if the paramedics have to cut your clothes off. The dog tags may also be lost the same way. Honestly, your ankles don't get looked at until much later unless you have a leg injury. So we might miss the ankle band for a while.

Ordering the wrist band *right now*.

[beccaB]

I have the ankle one because it has a reflective strip. It is also very comfortable,made from neoprene. I'm not sure if there is a wrist one made from neoprene, but I don't like to have things on my wrist anyway.

[Crankin]

I have the plain old fashioned wrist band in yellow. I actually have 2, since I lost one and ordered another. Finally got DH to wear one, especially important for him, as he takes Plavix and has 2 stents. Now I have to get DS to buy one.
I bought the wrist band because I had read that emergency personnel usually look there first. I developed a new allergy since I got the band; I suppose I should get a new one...

[7rider]

Wow thanks all.
Very helpful. Fortunately, neither DH nor I have any serious, chronic issues and no allergies.
DH has already expressed "no dog tags" so I guess that one was ruled out right after I first posted!

[RolliePollie]

First off, I just think wearing ID is such a good idea. I live alone and generally ride alone, so I really like the idea that I can be easily ID'ed. And I am so sorry about your friend.

I have the original style wrist ID. I initially bought the ankle strap but it bothered me because if I wore it loose, it moved up and down on my leg when I pedalled. And if I wore it tight, it felt like it was squeezing my ankle.

Only complaint about the wrist ID is the tan line. Other than that, I love it and I don't even notice that it's there. I have more detailed emergency info in my seat bag so I had them print "Emer Info in Seat Bag" on one of the lines.

[kmehrzad]

I have the wrist sport ID in Red - wanted a color that was noticeable.

Sorry for the loss of your friend. I, too, lost a friend and co-worker last August when he was riding the trail into Georgetown (DC) and had a massive stroke. From what I heard, he didn't have any ID on him, so it took some time for identification, plus his family lives in CA. This prompted me to purchase my Road ID.

[OakLeaf]

One hates to even mention it. And I keep putting my own off.

But you want a link to your Living Will there, too. It's as important as all the rest of the stuff. In Ohio, the County Recorder's Office in the state capital will record Living Wills and give you an ID card where anyone who needs it can access it. I'm not sure what other states do, but Ohio is rarely on the forefront of technological innovation.


ETA: okay, that was unfair now that I think about it. Ohio was one of the first two or three states to let you tie next-of-kin contact information to your driver's license. But I think just about every state followed suit within a year. (You all do have that, right?)

[Zen]

I have a bunch of HTFU temporary tattoos I use on my forearm to look at during races to remind myself to put that extra bit in.

Where can I find this item?