ItsJustMe

I don't really understand the question. You said you could have road ID AND dog tags. I have a Road ID, and it's a dog tag. I guess I do have both, come to think of it. They're both the same thing in my case.

I also pointed out (earlier) that I think road id is pretty overpriced; what are they, about $25? Nobody else is charging more than $10 for a tag, I'm going with an animal collar tag for any more that I get - I may get an add-on to go on my shoelaces as an added ID.

DataJunkie

Sorry, I didn't understand your response. However, I can see your point.

Big_e

Instead of ordering ID bracelets, just walk into any army&navy surplus and get some tags made up. They have those stamping machines and will make some up for about $5.00. You can get rubber silencers to wrap around them so you don't jingle as you move around.
Ernest

Throwmeabone

Here's a question for you guys, has anyone been in an accident while wearing a Road ID or dog tag in which the paramedics found it useful?

JTGraphics

I use an ID badge holder around my neck tucked in into my jersey with DL# Ins# Doctors# address and medical history and all my emergency contacts on a paper showing in the plastic window, one of the first things they do is cut off your shirt so they will find it.

dwilbur3

Throwmeabone:
Here's a question for you: Do you have any children?

Throwmeabone

No. I wasn't trying to question its usefulness, I'm just curious.

dwilbur3

Sorry, I read too much into your question.

skellener

Maybe just a Replacement ID and attaching it to the helmet chin strap?

JHG57

I have and wear a Road ID on a wrist band all the time. I use a red band so it stands out. It has my name, city/state, medical issues, wife's cell number and my daughters cell number. Since I ride motorcycles as well as bikes (with lots of gear on) I also have the dog tag version with the same info around my neck. Hopefully a paramedic will find 1 of the 2.

Nachoman

Road ID around the neck everytime I ride solo. I also bought one for my fifteen year old son that commutes to school every day.

chephy

If you have allergies or other serious medical issues, a road id makes sense. Otherwise... they'll look in your wallet eventually. Yeah, the family might be informed an hour later than it would be with a road id, but that just means they've been spared an extra hour of worrying about you and whether you're going to survive.

Though if the family does know that you have road id, then whenever you're late they'll know that if they have not received a call, you're not in a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Perhaps it contributes a little to their peace of mind. You may well be on the side of a dark road with life-threatening injuries though...

Of course, if you don't carry a wallet or any other id with you, a wrist or ankle band might make sense.

chephy

Why did they need her to know so soon anyway? If her cell phone was off, clearly she wasn't worrying herself silly, wondering where you were, so peace of mind is not an issue. Also, she would not be able to provide any medical assistance; if they problem was serious enough, she might not even have been allowed to see you for a while. Why did she need to know as soon as something happened?

BA Commuter

Since I had a few extra holiday bucks laying around, I just ordered a Road ID. This weekend, I reset the odometer, changed the batteries in my lights so I'm ready to commute again in 2009.

When I ordered, they gave me a coupon that I could pass along to my friends. Here's the coupon number: ThanksMichael453288

The coupon is good for $1 off any Road ID order placed by 02/03/2009. I don't get any kickbacks, just thought I'd pass it on if anyone is interested. To order, go to RoadID.com or click the link below:

https://www.roadid.com/?CID=ThanksMichael453288

kshapero

I wear the ankle Road Id. works well keeping my pants from getting ripped in the big ring.

ItsJustMe

Yup, I don't carry a wallet when riding. I don't have any real reason to. I guess my ID badge from work is in there (buried), but that's about it. Usually there's a phone in the bag, but it's buried and almost always turned off.

yagichan

I've decided to buy some dog tags because of this thread. I realized that I may not always carry my wallet and having some form of identification that is easily visible is essential.

So my question is this: What information do most of you include on your Road IDs, dogtags, etc?

I imagine name, any known allergies, emergency number, and blood type are good pieces of information to include. Anything else?

Thanks bikeforums!

CigarDad

I wear the FIXX ID (Dog Tag) Interactive. 'Never leave home without it.'

JanMM

Blood type is not needed. You would never be given blood based on that info. You would always be typed first or, in an extreme emergency, be given 'universal donor' blood.

InfiniteRegress

Actually, my mom could have provided information that was very important. I was unconscious and I have a medical issue that is poorly understood by many medical personnel because it's so rare. Because my mom knows my history, medication I take, what should be done, etc, it was very important that someone talk to her. To many a long story short, that's when I got a medic alert necklace. With their system, you can store all sorts of information that medical personnel can access quickly, including instructions. I've not yet had to use it (knock on wood), but it really could save my life in an accident.

But even for those without medical conditions, accessing family quickly can be very important in some situations. What if you have specific requests for situations where you're gravely injured? If you've opted to be an organ donor or opted not to have extensive measures taken to save your life in the event that you've suffered a serious brain injury, only family may be able to ensure that your wishes are carried out. Medical personnel are required to do everything possible to save your life, and that may or may not be congruent with your wishes you've expressed to your family. In addition, a family member who is present immediately following a serious accident can help ensure that there are no medical mistakes and that you're properly cared for. Unfortunately, medical mistakes are more common than most people realize. Having a family member present as soon as you roll into the hospital who is there looking out for your interests has been shown to minimize such mistakes.

ItsJustMe

I pretty much followed RoadID's formula:

My Name
City, State, USA
HOME: (home phone number)
(Wife's first name) (wife's cell phone number) CELL
NKA - O POS BLOOD
DOB 1964 - ORGAN DONOR

I'd guess that if I had less space, I'd chop out line 6 first, then line 4 since line 3 would be good enough, then line 5 - the bare minimum info would be the first 3 lines.

InfiniteRegress

If you have room, some things you may want to consider including are health insurance info (member ID and health insurance company), any medications you take, and maybe more than one emergency number in case one person isn't available. As I stated above, the ability for the hospital to access a family member can be invaluable, especially if there are decisions to be made about your care and you're unable to make them.

jbhowat

I'm not so sure why health insurance matters. If you have it you have it, it doesn't affect their treatment. I've gone to the hospital a couple times, both times forgot my Ins card (one time I was bleeding quite a bit and didn't want to get blood all over the place looking for it, the other time I took an ambulance and didn't have it on me). It was never an issue. I was awake when they brought me in and when they asked me I just said yes, but I don't have it on me. They said no biggy, just give it to billing and they will file it as soon as you give it to them, but if you wait too long the bill will come to you (and I learned that even after that point if you give the hospital the ins. they will submit it - we're talking 100+ days from release).

I don't really get that. There are a lot more important things for me to put on a little tag than that.

InfiniteRegress

It depends on your health insurance. Some health insurance companies (mostly HMOs, but even PPOs to some extent) require pre-authorization for emergency room care. So, even if you're bleeding to death, they want someone from the hospital to call them within a certain time period to let them know you've arrived and obtain "authorization." If this doesn't happen, you can end up with a giant headache down the road, anything from just the hassle of filling out some forms explaining why pre-authorization was not possible to actually having your claim denied. I've gone through this and it's NOT fun.

In addition, if you need x-rays or lab work done and you have your health insurance information with you, it can save the expense of the hospital accidentally doing something "out of network" that will cost you lots of money after everything is over. I've had enough personal experience with hospitals and health insurance companies to know the value of ensuring this information is on your person at all times. Name of health insurance company, their member services phone number, and your member number and group ID are VERY important pieces of information to keep with you at all times.

SlimAgainSoon

After reading this thread, i just ordered two dog tags on chains from Boomerang (one for the bike, one for the boat).

Thanks for the tip, no motor.