Road I.D.

[Boeing]

This Just in: Liz Hatch????? has a better idea.

 

[barn yard]

thats just dirty

 

[Barracuda]

To answer your last question first; I don't need to talk for them to be able to look up my journal. My person-number is on my card!
As for the telephone number... no! But they're on my phone...

Anyway... those really bad crashes often happens on descents, right? Well; we're kinda short of them here... 'tis ol' country is flat!

Are you serious ??!!?? On this years Tour down under community ride I saw a rider on a perfectly flat road go A over T on a train line and split head clean open. ROAD ID very handy then i would assume!!

 

[barn yard]

I was not comfortable carrying my drivers license.

not sure i am following you?

 

[Marva32]

I used to have a set of regular 'dog tags' with my name, home #, and blood type on them, but switched to the Road ID version of the same system, and I wear the tags all the time, never take them off. I have a ton of medications I take, and have been known to feint from time to time due to my blood pressure dropping. I don't want to take any chances, and this seems to be the best protection I've seen yet.

 

[RedheadDane]

Are you serious ??!!?? On this years Tour down under community ride I saw a rider on a perfectly flat road go A over T on a train line and split head clean open. ROAD ID very handy then i would assume!!

Well... then it wasn't perfectly flat... I didn't see it but maybe that guy just wasn't paying attention, come on; a large bunch of people riding together, bound to end in trouble! And... they must've gone relatively fast for that to happen (he was wearing a helmet, right?)

Also... I know there's a risk in moving out in trafic. But, then pedestrians might as well wear a tag too...

 

[ElChingon]

I'd like to know when was the last time anyone on Earth found a person by the roadside and couldn't figure out to just call 911 or whatever the number is in your part of the world and get the person to a hospital or medical place? No, instead they'll first try to identify you before carting you off to the hospital right?

Remember if they find your body on some road side most likely you will be taken to the nearest hospital/clinic/doctor/etc. and if they can't fix you up then it will be up to the coroner to figure out who you are. If you owe money they will identify you pretty quick I guarantee it hospital or coroner, if you don't owe money then you should consider taking out a big loan, assuming you want to be identified. I'm sure there's some people who need to have some special medical case and they carry a bracelet or other to identify that already.

Then again if you carry a fake ID you might also get out of a big hospital bill?
I wonder if Road ID will sell another "Levi Leipheimer" bracelet to me?

 

[STODRR]

I'd like to know when was the last time anyone on Earth found a person by the roadside and couldn't figure out to just call 911 or whatever the number is in your part of the world and get the person to a hospital or medical place? No, instead they'll first try to identify you before carting you off to the hospital right?

If after reading this thread you think it is for the person who finds you to call home then you shouldn't be riding a bike.

 

[RedheadDane]

I... think what ElChingon meant was that people witnessing a bad crash hopefully would bring a person to the hospital and then worry about the identification and calling-home business...
Anyway... where do you people live if you can't even go for an ordinary bike-ride without having to worry that "I might be run down or I might have a bad crash!"?

 

[STODRR]

I... think what ElChingon meant was that people witnessing a bad crash hopefully would bring a person to the hospital and then worry about the identification and calling-home business...

And who said anything different. Hence my reply.

Anyway... where do you people live if you can't even go for an ordinary bike-ride without having to worry that "I might be run down or I might have a bad crash!"?

There was a 21% increase in the number of bicyslists injured in 2008, totaling 52,000.

http://www.edgarsnyder.com/bicycle/...le+accidents+in+united+states+in+2009&spell=1

Denmark has a high incidence of cyclist traffic. Every year, approximately 60 cyclists are killed and 2000 injured on Danish roads and cyclists remain a high-risk group.

http://www.esafetysupport.org/en/esafety_activities/national_level/denmark_.htm

Why do you carry your phone or wallet with you or your card?

 

[RedheadDane]

1: You wrote as if (s)he'd written that the person who witnessed a crash would do the calling... but I suppose you could bring someone to the hospital and let them (or the police...) do the calling

2: Yes! There are hazards of moving out into trafic... but... there are also hazards if you walk... or even drive your car. The trick is: be carefull! If you see a right-turning truck keep back until you're 200% sure it has seen you or even better; has made its turn!

3: Well... mostly when I'm riding my bike I'm going to school... and honestly; with a rucksack packed with what feels like a few kilos worth of books a phone and a wallet doesn't make much difference!

 

[ElChingon]

I think those who buy it consider it like a fictional safety blanket as the info you list on it is rather un-helpfull, they have and e-mail address? Home phone, address, name, emergency contact. Which one of these do you really want on there if you just found someone? I think you're better off just having 911 listed on there just in case the person who found you is questioning who to call. Most people's family will thank you for calling 911 and not them, unless they are in the ambulance business or own a personal always ready helicopter to go pick you up ASAP.

I won't mind if they call me "hey you" while they wait for the ambulance to come pick me up. People need to get things in perspective. Then again if you do find an arm or leg with the ROAD ID on it you'll know where to send the appendage to if the address is listed. Yes listing any allergies/allergic meds on it is helpful for those who have it, then again you probably have such a bracelet already, right?

 

[Steampunk]

There are some pretty callous and unimaginative responses on this thread. If you have medical issues or allergies, then access to this information can be pretty vital at the hospital. And you can put anything you want on your bracelet. It doesn't have to be your address; it can be your blood type (which can save valuable time if you're losing a lot of blood and unconscious).

As for pedestrians being at risk—that's a pretty naïve comment, but if you're allergic to penicillin, you probably wear a similar bracelet just in case. I've visited Copenhagen; it's a beautiful city. But in an afternoon's stroll around town, I witnessed one cyclist hitting a car and another crashing with a pedestrian. Fortunately, no one was hurt in either case, but to say that you're not at risk is ridiculous.

If you think this kind of easily accessible information is a silly idea, don't get one. When I'm out riding on my own—often far from home—it seems to me that being able to communicate medical information to a prospective emergency health provider isn't such a bad idea. Do I expect to crash? No. Am I aware that even the best and most careful cyclists can be involved in a crash? Yes.

 

[Oldman]

There are some pretty callous and unimaginative responses on this thread. If you have medical issues or allergies, then access to this information can be pretty vital at the hospital. And you can put anything you want on your bracelet. It doesn't have to be your address; it can be your blood type (which can save valuable time if you're losing a lot of blood and unconscious).

As for pedestrians being at risk—that's a pretty naïve comment, but if you're allergic to penicillin, you probably wear a similar bracelet just in case. I've visited Copenhagen; it's a beautiful city. But in an afternoon's stroll around town, I witnessed one cyclist hitting a car and another crashing with a pedestrian. Fortunately, no one was hurt in either case, but to say that you're not at risk is ridiculous.

If you think this kind of easily accessible information is a silly idea, don't get one. When I'm out riding on my own—often far from home—it seems to me that being able to communicate medical information to a prospective emergency health provider isn't such a bad idea. Do I expect to crash? No. Am I aware that even the best and most careful cyclists can be involved in a crash? Yes.

I'm sure it's been said earlier but how about putting this info along side your spare tube? That and a cell number to a concerned party would do the same thing and not spend money on a useless, overpromoted and overpriced bracelet. Don't we have enough jewelry already, fans?

 

[ElChingon]

Some one did say you can put anything on those bracelets.

 

[avanti]

My former bike club used to participate in a Xmas bike giveaway to kids. This was in cooperation with our local professional fire dept. A few years ago we showed a rider ID bracelet to the firemen; none knew what is was!

They said they leave all identification and medical issues to the hospital except for first aid (or to the police in the case of a road death).

I carry an old DL, medical insurance card, and list of contacts when I'm riding.

Edit: I also carry a cell phone with ICE numbers. I have not checked my new location but in my old one the firemen/paramedics also took any crashed bikes backto their station.

 

[ElChingon]

My former bike club used to participate in a Xmas bike giveaway to kids. This was in cooperation with our local professional fire dept. A few years ago we showed a rider ID bracelet to the firemen; none knew what is was!

They said they leave all identification and medical issues to the hospital except for first aid (or to the police in the case of a road death).

I carry an old DL, medical insurance card, and list of contacts when I'm riding.

They left out that they pretty much totally disrobe you and place your shredded up clothes in a bag which may or may not be kept/traced to you later so your DL, etc may never see the light of day again after that.

 

[winkybiker]

I tried all the arguments with my wife. I insisted that her getting early notification of my demise didn't really make things any better. I argued that whoever found my shattered body should seek medical aid as a priority before letting her know. I explained that I had no pre-existing condition that a first-aider/responder/trauma surgeon needed to know about. All of it. Made no difference.

She simply insisted that she would be less stressed believing that she would be able to be quickly notified if I was killed or injured. I couldn't argue with that logic. So I ride with a Road I.D. Not for me...for her.

 

[Archibald]

I tried all the arguments with my wife. I insisted that her getting early notification of my demise didn't really make things any better. I argued that whoever found my shattered body should seek medical aid as a priority before letting her know. I explained that I had no pre-existing condition that a first-aider/responder/trauma surgeon needed to know about. All of it. Made no difference.

She simply insisted that she would be less stressed believing that she would be able to be quickly notified if I was killed or injured. I couldn't argue with that logic. So I ride with a Road I.D. Not for me...for her.

"Happy Wife, Happy Life", eh?


I thought the whole ID thing was for the paramedics anyway. They won't be interested in your bike, so won't go through your saddle bag, or look for little tags.
They won't be going through your pockets or wallets or through your phone numbers either - not til long after you've already been carted to hospital, and even then your PIN will probably prevent them accessing your phone... (if it's not stolen by an onlooker, along with your wallet)
They will, however, check for medic alert style bracelets and necklets, and are fully aware of the helmet emergency ID tags. These will all be found during the initial assessment/checkover.

Like Winkybiker, mine was given to me by my family and contains my name, emergency contact info (name & number) along with my blood type. The last one is the most important for me, but the second is the most important for the family - saves them having to go through the whole "well, he hasn't come back yet, wait, worry, wait, worry, better check with hospitals, etc..." palaver and stress...

 

[Bustedknuckle]

They left out that they pretty much totally disrobe you and place your shredded up clothes in a bag which may or may not be kept/traced to you later so your DL, etc may never see the light of day again after that.

Thought I posted this but..

Name, DOB, SSN and blood type tattooed right above heart, left side of chest..like said above, they make you nekid, if they gotta shock you or do CPR, that's where they go.

Lots of military guys do this.

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

It is a wise practice, IMHO, because anyone who spends a significant portion of their life road cycling is subject to fall victim to someone else's accident. I just don't fancy the expense or the execution.

There isn't much information that your RoadID could provide that would affect how the EMTs/paramedics will treat you, unless you have an especially rare medical condition or allergy. Blood type in particular is purely eyewash because the protocol is to type and crossmatch before administering it. EMTs/Paramedics do not carry blood (it is too scarce and too perishable), much less administer it, and no competent medical professional will trust what is printed on your ID, regardless. If your condition is so critical that they cannot wait for for lab results, they administer O-neg rather than trust even what you might say, provided you are conscious, or even what is tattooed on your chest (have you never seen a misspelt tattoo?).

I have a couple of rare drug allergies, and an unusual medical condition that could affect diagnosis, so I wear a Medic Alert necklace. But that information only would be beneficial if I were uncommunicative for a lengthy period and no Next-of-Kin was available.

STODRR's example of surgically-implanted steel is an excellent point (all mine are titanium, which is non-magnetic). Depending on your injuries, that is something the treating physician might need to know immediately (but, again, not the EMTs/Paramedics).

So for the typical "No Known Allergies" cyclist lacking a steel plate in their head, the primary benefit of the RoadID would be in the providing of NOK information, or long-term treatment information (which probably wouldn't be necessary if a NOK were available), or the existence of your "living will" or advanced medical care directive. If you are unconscious and no NOK or AMCD is available, doctors always will assume that you would consent to being treated as they see fit.

When I cycle, I leave the smartphone at home and carry a small clamshell mobile phone with an ICE number programmed into it. But it cannot be relied upon to remain serviceable after a severe crash so I also carry an emergency ID of my own manufacture, kept along with the mobile inside of a snack-sized (3x6"/8x16cm) ziplock plastic bag in the back pocket of my jersey.

If you think your bloodied and shredded clothes are summarily discarded by hospital staff, you are mistaken. One of the EMTs' duties after the drop-off is made is to transfer any personal effects to hospital staff, who will search them, specifically looking for identity documents. So the fact I don't wear my RoadID-I-Y around my wrist or neck is inconsequential.

But I cannot justify the expense (or, to a lesser degree, the lack of timeliness) of a RoadID because I can create an equivalent document myself with a computer, a printer, and a trip to the nearest business offering laminating service. Your address can change, the identity of your NOK can change, your NOK can change telephone numbers, or you might change insurors or insurance policy numbers, any of which would mean your RoadID is "out of date."

OTOH, with my RoadID-I-Y, if any of my information should change, it's two minutes at my PC, 10 minutes to the neighborhood copy centre, the price of a pint of Guinness later and, voilà!, I have a reasonably durable identification document that meets my primary emergency medical information needs and is suitable for carry in a bicycle jersey pocket. Mine is about 2x4" (5x10cm), duplex printed in a 10-pt font, and is more than large enough as is, but I can make it as large the as the information I deem necessary should require.

 

[BroDeal]

Thought I posted this but..

Name, DOB, SSN and blood type tattooed right above heart, left side of chest..like said above, they make you nekid, if they gotta shock you or do CPR, that's where they go.

Lots of military guys do this.

And in other news...epidemic of identify theft sweeps through military personnel posted to locations near public beaches.

 

[STODRR]

This weekend my riding buddy was out in the moutians by himself. He remembers trying to figure time to meet his wife then waking up in an ambulance. The guy that found him on the side of the road (hit and run) called 911 then called his wife. He got his number off his road ID on his wrist.

Yes that person could have looked through his wallet (I don't want somebody going thru my wallet), or could have looked in his phone assuming it was not locked and he had the number identified as wife and not the name like I do.

 

[DirtyWorks]

This weekend my riding buddy was out in the moutians by himself. He remembers trying to figure time to meet his wife then waking up in an ambulance. The guy that found him on the side of the road (hit and run) called 911 then called his wife. He got his number off his road ID on his wrist.

Yes that person could have looked through his wallet (I don't want somebody going thru my wallet), or could have looked in his phone assuming it was not locked and he had the number identified as wife and not the name like I do.

Thanks RoadID employee!

I have some experience in this area. Emergency personnel, on average, do not know what RoadID is, nor are they looking. Their priorities were not, for me, figuring that stuff out. They got me to a hospital.

In my case the matter was urgent clothes were cut off and discarded. I can't understand why they would mess around with clothes in an urgent situation. Your stuff gets transferred to the hospital where they will attempt to sort out who you are if you are not conscious. I got my wallet back, with all the cash no problem.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Thanks RoadID employee!

I have some experience in this area. Emergency personnel, on average, do not know what RoadID is, nor are they looking. Their priorities were not, for me, figuring that stuff out. They got me to a hospital.

In my case the matter was urgent clothes were cut off and discarded. I can't understand why they would mess around with clothes in an urgent situation. Your stuff gets transferred to the hospital where they will attempt to sort out who you are if you are not conscious. I got my wallet back, with all the cash no problem.

Me too. I was in the hospital as 'John Doe' until the emergency RM Doc recognized me. I had a concussion, so couldn't help. Clothes cut off(broken back), into a plastic bag.