Advocacy & Safety - Cyclist Dies from Heat in PHL... No ID on Him.

Lessons learned... always have water to drink, and always carry some ID.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/4603433/detail.html

Biker Dies Of Heat On The Schuylkill River Trail
Victim Identified Late Monday Afternoon

POSTED: 5:16 pm EDT June 13, 2005
UPDATED: 5:54 pm EDT June 13, 2005

WEST NORRITON, Pa. -- A man biking on the Schuylkill River Trail collapsed and died Friday.

A coroner's report said that the man died from a medical condition aggravated by the heat and humidity.

West Norriton police said that on Friday they responded to a report of a man down, possibly from the heat.

"When my officers arrived, along with medical personnel, they found the man still astride the bike laying on the ground. He had started to change color at that point in time," said Chief Robert Adams, of the West Norriton Police Department.

Authorities had little to go on. The man had no identification. They only had his bike to track him down, so nobody could contact his family when he was pronounced dead at Montgomery Hospital.

Late on Monday, police said they had identified the man, but they were not immediately releasing his name. They did say that he was from Norristown, Pa.

It is the kind of situation that troubles other bikers.

"Oh, it's scary. But, you know, try and keep hydrated, and try and keep shaded and carry I.D," said Angelia Marchesani, of Havertown, Pa.

The temperature soared into the 90s last Friday and again reached the 90s on Monday.

Still, people want the exercise so they bike, hike and roller blade. The most important thing to do is take time out for water breaks to stay hydrated.

Adams said that exercisers should be smart and carry identification with them just in case.

"I have a label in my helmet. See, it has got my name. My phone number, my neighbor's phone number and her cell phones," said Pat Bertschy, of Norristown.

"I have a label in my helmet. See, it has got my name. My phone number, my neighbor's phone number and her cell phones," said Pat Bertschy, of Norristown.


that's a great idea.

This company has a superb ID tag product... you can get bike club discounts from them, too... my son and I wear the tags. It's really hard to get my 13 year old boy to carry a wallet, but he does remember to wear his ID band.

www.RoadID.com

Agreed, a bit of sympathy wouldn't hurt. While an ID is a must have, it wouldn't have helped much at this point other than making it easier to contact the family to announce the bad news.

Note the article says "died from a medical condition aggravated by the heat and humidity", he could have suffocated from an astma attack or some heart related condition.. At extreme temperatures, health and fitness conditions should be considered, even with the right amount of hydration and rest.

Sympathies to his family! :(

You could just go to PetSmart and make an ID on the machine they have there for making dog IDs. The last time I used one of those was for a dog I had that kept running away. I made it an ID with the dog pound's phone number on it. :D

A very inexpensive id tag can be had from one of those engraving machines that make pet tags; some pet stores have them, and I found one inside a Walmart store. My tag is metal, rectangular, and gave me five lines of engraving, enough for name, address, and several emergency phone numbers. Cost: $5

I have a p-touch label maker with my parents phone #, girlfriend's #, my name, and my insurance status so they don't think I'm uninsured and leave me to die by the side of the road.

lessons learned?
damn man, sympathize much?

Yeah it is too bad, but my sole reason for posting this is that there are lessons to learn from this inicident. I just hope they can ID him soon, I can'tr imaging being this guy's family and not knowing where he is.

I have a p-touch label maker with my parents phone #, girlfriend's #, my name, and my insurance status so they don't think I'm uninsured and leave me to die by the side of the road.
I think there are laws saying they have to give you medical care even if you can not afford said care so I don't think you have to worry about them leaving you if you don't have your insurance info on you if you are passed out.

Dog tag with name, DOB, Social Security # and NY driver license #

If they can't figure out who I am from that, then I'm in the wrong hands.

http://www.gotags.com/choose9.htm

Dog tag with name, DOB, Social Security # and NY driver license #

If they can't figure out who I am from that, then I'm in the wrong hands.

http://www.gotags.com/choose9.htm


Personally,I'd substitute the SS# for my blood type. More important in an emergency,and it doesn't give as much info for identity theft if it gets lost.

Personally,I'd substitute the SS# for my blood type. More important in an emergency,and it doesn't give as much info for identity theft if it gets lost.

Agreed. I just pulled my dog tags out from my Navy service. Has name, service number (SSN), branch of service, blood type, and religious preference (for ... well ... you know).

d.tipton

Yeah, I always carry my BCBS card, my drivers license and some kind of third ID (minor one, like my aerobics association card or something like that). Just in case...

Koffee

I punch a hole in an expired drivers license, write my emergency contacts on the back with a sharpie, attach it with an extra bank card to a lanyard and carry it around my neck.

I'm going to put my blue cross info on it /per slvoid

I just put my driver license, medical insurance card and coffee or V8 money in one of my pockets.

Yeah, I always carry my BCBS card, my drivers license and some kind of third ID (minor one, like my aerobics association card or something like that). Just in case...

Koffee

"Quick! She's an aerobics instructor, get her medical attention and a sports bra right away!"

Back when I was a roadie, I kept a copy of my medical coverage card on my top tube. It had my doctor's phone number on it, along with my details.

Personally,I'd substitute the SS# for my blood type. More important in an emergency,and it doesn't give as much info for identity theft if it gets lost.

If the hospital can't type / match your blood upon arrival, you're in deep doo-doo.

www.RoadID.com
I've had one of their ankle IDs since 2002. I wear it every time I'm on my bikes, both weekend rides and commuting. Sure I have the label in my helmet, and I have my wallet in my panniers when commuting, but what if my helmet and panniers get ripped off while I'm lying on the ground? No one is going to bother with stealing an ankle ID. And what's one of the first things the ER folks will do --- remove my shoes. Gee, what's this around the guy's ankle? Looks like ID.

why not just carry a wallet?,sheesh guys.

why not just carry a wallet?,sheesh guys.

Creates an unsightly buldge in my roadie shorts.

well if your gonna operate a vehicle on city streets carry a proper ID, pretty easy to understand and accomplish, most excuses when it comes to this are prettymuch sheer laziness or BS

Creates an unsightly buldge in my roadie shorts.

I'm gonna start carrying a wallet from now on....

This company has a superb ID tag product... you can get bike club discounts from them, too... my son and I wear the tags. It's really hard to get my 13 year old boy to carry a wallet, but he does remember to wear his ID band.

www.RoadID.com

Oh please, you can do this for next to nothing with stickers.

Oh please, you can do this for next to nothing with stickers.

You can also get by with a bike from Wal-Mart. Your point is?