therh

I have worn Road ID for around four years now, and have never needed it thankfully.

Have you ever been in a situation that you were thankful to wear it on a ride?

ARPRINCE

I've had mine since 2011 and never had it used for the purpose it was intended.

Early on, I used to put them on only when riding. Then on some occasions, I would forget them so I decided just to wear it 24/7.

TassR700

Never had to use mine for its intended purpose but it gives my wife peace of mind so that counts for me.

leob1

No, haven't used it as intended. But I do have a friend that should have had one when she fell while running with her dog.

redcon1

I was on a fast group ride a few weeks ago and several of us went down, one critically. I didn't know him that well, and thank God he had his roadID for the ambulance crew with his name, address, and emergency contact info.
After the ambulance departed we all compared our roadIDs to make sure they had correct info listed.

WonderMonkey

I have one but have never needed it, thankfully. I wear it when I go hiking, hunting, etc.

GlennR

Also never needed it. But I also have life insurance and never needed it.

mister

Wait, you mean they aren't to just show you're a cyclist and start a conversation?

My wife refers to mine as a "charm bracelet for men" since I've never needed it for an emergency. I have severe medical allergies so I wear mine all the time. We also got one for my son for when we go to places like the airport and Disneyland in case he gets lost in an emergency.

aubiecat

I didn't have one till a few weeks ago. A few of the people that ride in our group had serious wreck, they are all OK now, but none of them had Road ID. They were taken to the hospital as John and Jane Doe.

JohnnyCyclist

I carry emergency contact info and insurance card in a jersey pocket. I figure if I'm lying on the road passed out, they'll be smart enough to look at the bulges on my back.

doctor j

I carry a home-brew ICE (in case of emergency) card in a 4" x 6" ziplock bag in center jersey pocket. Last week, I needed to be identified, and one of the first responders got my information from the card. Name, birthday, no known drug allergies, blood type, daily BP meds listed, ICE phone numbers. First responder called the wife. It worked.

RollCNY

I wear one, and have been hit by cars twice, and had heat stroke once. I did not use it in those cases, but if the cookie crumbled differently, it might have mattered.

rpenmanparker 

I am more interested whether anyone knows of a case where the EMS folks have actually gone online to get the full medical information for the patient using the code on the Road ID. To me that is the important part. If the patient is unconscious, can the rescue team get to the full medical history for the patient? Are they even willing to try?

Clipped_in

I was hit by a car two years ago while wearing my Road ID (interactive). I apparently blacked out for a few seconds just before hitting the deck. There were many witnesses and someone immediately called for an ambulance. I was not out long and didn't know I had been until someone told me. No head impact or head injuries. Anyway, as I'm riding in the ambulance to the hospital I tell the EMT about my Road ID. He had never hear of it, but he was quite interested in it and thought it was a good idea. He suggested I let him give it to the hospital staff when we arrived to see what they would do with it. Apparently the ER staff had no clue and really paid no attention to the information on it. Maybe it would have been different had I been unconscious.

The point you are bringing up is valid. There is a knowledge gap that needs to be bridged with emergency responders and medical personnel if Road ID's are going to be as effective as intended. I think that will come with time and increased usage, but it would be good if there were some type of effort to expedite that somehow.

Jadesfire 

I'm a volunteer EMT. There isn't enough time while you're in the back of the ambulance to do that. And personally, I'd rather have my paramedic focused on saving my life and/or limbs. The road ID is great, but if you are unconscious and bleeding it's more for when you get to the hospital and are stabilized. And hopefully someone notices it as they are cutting it off of you.

indyfabz

How about making me the beneficiary?

Seriously...I life insurance and will likely never need it. My employer makes me take it even though I have no spouse or dependents and cannot envision having either. I am entitled to 3X my salary in insurance for free, but since I don't need any I take the lowest amount possible, which is $10K. The only nice thing about the situation is that my employer credits the cost savings to it to my health care contribution. The savings is so great that it's more than my health contribution and I end up with extra money in my paycheck every two weeks.

indyfabz

Good questions/observations. I have a prosthetic heart valve and, as a result, take Coumadin. I wear a Medic-Alter bracelet that has that information engraved on the back. There is also a code and phone number to call to get more personal information like emergency contacts.

imhuskertko

NEED may be overkill, no pun intended, but when I got hit from behind, I was conscious but in a lot of pain. It was much easier to hand my Interactive RoadID to the reponding EMT and Police for them to get the needed info, rather than me trying to focus on answering qquestions.

therh

I am thankful that nobody has been critically, but it sounds like Road ID has been a tremendous help, when a situation does happen.

Tycho Brahe 

My road ID has two numbers: my now ex-wife and my father, who is now of in Europe.

mister

I ride with many firefighters and medics. Most of them have a Road ID and know to check for them, but the priority at the scene is saving the life. I know Road ID is really working to educate first responders, but I don't see the interactive one being more beneficial in a true emergency. I always joke that it's a tag of where to ship my body after some nut job ran me over.

rmfnla

I do the same...

Corbin

So I guess the dog tag ones wouldn't be the best then. It would be nice if there was a universal spot that all manufactures used. Like maybe a plate under the shoe. Or maybe in the helmet.

OldTryGuy

April 2011, ejected off of bike mile 72.5 of 100, landed on back, heard 2 cracks, C6 and right clavicle, trip to ER, on slab not feeling the best and being worked on while questions are asked, mention RoadID on wrist, nurse takes it off accesses information having never seen one, says something to the effect of....."this is really cool" result was I didn't have to do much thinking or answering questions, and the Foley insert did not make things any better.

therh

Wow, that is intense, glad you are well. Glad you are well and glad to hear it has saved a life.