Doug64

In my experience as a volunteer EMT on an ambulance crew in a small rural community for 15 years and a ski patroller for twice that long, EMS personnel are trained and do look for medical-alert info. However, the standard places to look are the wrists and neck. If the injured, unconscious, person is obviously carrying a wallet that can also be checked. I have not been on any serious bicycle injuries during that time, but I have been on 5 serious motorcycle accidents, 3 fatal. In the cases where the rider was unconscious, we did not have time to search their bags; if the information was not on their person it was not searched out. That was done later by law enforcement.

Besides the standard information about allergies, medications, and contacts; organ donor consent is important for the hospital to know.

I have an allergy to bees stings, am an organ donor, and wear the standard $20 wrist Road ID. I consider it money well spent. A lot of people think nothing of paying more than $20 for dinner and a movie, but balk at buying something that could have significant value. Mine is 8 years old, and including one new strap; the cost comes to about $3.13/ year.

staehpj1

It depends on where you buy them, but they can be a good bit cheaper (like $2-3). I really don't see any advantage to the non interactive Road ID over the $2 dog tag. If you want the features of the interactive Road ID, I don't know of another option though. I am happy with the $2 dog tags rather than a $25 Road ID.

alan s 

The question for me, without any medical conditions or allergies, is whether EMS or ER will do anything different if I wear a RoadID. I think the answer is no, and always have something on me for ID, so it seems unnecessary. They will eventually figure out who I am when everything stabilizes, assuming I remain unconscious. If I'm conscious, I'll just tell them my name and whom to contact.

bikenh

I just took an old drivers license and cut off the photo and name and I take that with me...nothing else. Makes it a bit difficult for people to steal my identity if they steal my ID, no address, no drivers license number, no SS number, no birthdate, no nothing but name and photo.

Medic Zero

.

I've got the wristband, no data back-up, just my partners and my fathers phone numbers after my full name and birthdate. Wear it every ride (commuting and touring) except for the rare day where I forget it commuting. It doesn't look bad, I kind of consider it man-jewelry, the bit of reflective doesn't hurt or look bad, whole thing looks similar to a medic alert bracelet, but a little nicer in a way. I've got mine a little loose on their XL bit stretchy band, and it's easy on, easy off.

FrenchFit 

Nice to have running trails, beside some water and a key that's all I've got. If I wasn't a runner, I probably wouldn't have popped for it. I like the wrist strap.

Scummer

I've been using a roadID ankle bracelet for the last 6 years or so. I wear it religiously on almost every ride (2 minute ride to the bakery doesn't count), but thankfully never had to make use of it.
It has my wife's and parent's contact phone numbers on it and my blood type.

Papa Tom

I don't have a formal Road ID, but each time I go out on a tour, I type up a form that says who I am, where I live, where I was going, what type of insurance I have, who to contact, etc. I keep this in a conspicuous, easy-to-access place in my pannier, near my wallet, which also contains several forms of ID, insurance cards, etc.

adablduya

so, what if you WERE knocked unconscious, or perhaps unable to speak for several days ( or longer). seems to me a fine reason to carry conspicuous emergency / contact information. also, important medical info (blood type ??) is nice to have.

i find it curious that many folks out there seem to prefer to rationalize NOT having conspicuous emergency / contact info while out riding (or running). packing a wallet or whatever somewhere on your bike (or even on your person) presumes that emergency personnel will take the time to go hunting for something that may not be there. if an emergency situation is critical, i believe i'd rather this information be readily visible.

more than once while out running in a public area, I've seen runners go down and unconscious. THAT'S a situation where readily visible ID would be nice to have. without it, this JOHN DOE goes to a hospital and no way for anyone to know. if he has a wife and kids, i would consider it to be quite irresponsible of him to NOT have emergency ID.

RoderWrench

I wear a Road ID on my wrist. Contact info, no allergies, blood type and organ donor. It's on my wrist, EMS people know to look for them. That fact alone makes it well worth the $25 for me. Besides, it's probably the cheapest piece of my cycling kit and since it's something that could save my life, I think $25 for the gold standard is a bargain.

adablduya

same here, and couldn't agree more. frankly, it seems so intuitively obvious a smart idea that i can't imagine any reason not to. kind of like wearing a helmet, it's a no-brainer.

RWBlue01

If I had any allergies or took regular meds, I would do what you do.

As is, I just carry my wallet, phone when I ride.

5kdad

I just recently bought one, was I was planning a solo multi-day trip.

BluGnat

I always try to remember to put my RoadID on when I leave for a run, because I'm mildly (so far) asthmatic. I haven't used it on my bike yet, but need to remember to stick a copy of my driver's license or something in my saddle bag.

bransom

A few years ago, I went down hard when I stuffed my skinny road bike tire into an empty road expansion joint and flipped over the handlebars. Broke my collarbone, five ribs, collapsed a lung, and cracked my helmet (yay, helmet!). Someone driving by saw me crashed out, stopped, found me unable to speak, and called 911. First responders arrived very quickly (I was very close to one of the ambulance garages) but I couldn't answer their questions as, well, I couldn't breathe. Luckily a friend happened by, went "wait, I know that guy!" and called my wife.

In the end, all's well that ends well but I always ride with a Road ID bracelet now.

alan s 

I would appreciate if you or someone else could explain how a RoadID would make any difference to an otherwise healthy person with no special medical conditions. What makes a RoadID worth $25 to someone like me?

RoderWrench

Blood type could be a handy detail and being able to notify someone of your whereabouts if you are unconscious. Go to the RoadID website and read the testimonials. Oh s---, that could happen to me went through my head over and over and sealed the deal.

gpsblake

Not needed, put in something they can use. There isn't a hospital that will give you blood based on a Road ID or any other bracelet or even your word except for O negative without testing it first.

Frreed

The most important thing about Road ID is that it has an ICE (In Case of Emergency) number on it. Letting someone know that you are in the emergency room (or where they have deposited your corpse) is more essential information than insurance information, blood type or birthdate. Known allergies or significant medical issues (Seizures, Pacemaker, Asthma...) are useful, but not essential. They are going to be running tests on such things anyway. In a critical situation they are going to do whatever is necessary to stabilize you and get you to the ER. In the ER they are going to do whatever it takes to keep you alive. Insurance and all that other stuff will be taken care of after the fact. Having a contact number for a family member gives them the ability to authorize treatment past the initial care.

staehpj1

Unless you have some medical condition that really matters to first responders, my suggestion is to split the difference and buy a $3 dog tag that has your emergency contact info and any other info you care to add.

BTW, If you have a condition that first responders really need to know about you probably ought to be wearing some sort of medical ID all the time not just on the bike. In that case there is still no reason it needs to be a RoadID.

schnee

A bright yellow wristband will be referred to quickly and easily by a first responder in case of an accident that leaves you unconscious.

I have contact information for my two closest family members on it.

There are definitely cheaper ways to do the job, but RoadID does the job well.

Bamabikerntexas

I use it. Mine is a necklace (dog Tag) Keeps my wife from worrying when I am gone on long rides.

Bamabikerntexas

Lots of healthy people with no medical conditions crash. The app that goes with it has alerts to you emergency contact as well has an inactivity alarm if you go down.

alan s 

I'm finding this hard to believe. Where did you see that, and how does it work? What if you take it off for the night or sit down to take a break, will an alarm go off? False alarms, like crying wolf, will soon be ignored. I think the $1 dog tag or free copy of a driver's license with a contact number on it would get the job done just as well as a $25 bracelet. This is an overly complicated and expensive solution to a simple problem.

Doug64

It is interesting that the $20 Road ID's keep getting more expensive and the $3 dog tags keep getting cheaper with every post. I was looking for a stainless steel chain the other day and the beaded ones used on dog tags kept coming up. A stainless steel chain will cost $7 to $14 plus shipping. I didn't price a stainless dog tag with engraving and shipping, but I'll bet it is right up there with the $20 Road ID, if the cost of the chain is included. I'd be interested in seeing what those $1 dog tags look like and the material they are made from. Of course a green ring around the neck might be worth saving a few bucks.

I think the whole point is; do you you use some type of medi-alert when riding? I didn't think the OP wanted a pi****g match started about what is the best method or brand. Whether you do or you don't is a personal matter, as is the quality and brand of the product used.