Thanks for your service! I'm also a Disabled Veteran and highly recommend Road ID. There is ample room on their online form to provide additional emergency contacts and medical information.

I include my current medications, my Primary Care Physician with contact information and the contact information for the Veterans Administration Medical Center where I am currently enrolled and my previous one as well. That should cover things fairly well. Your current medical condition(s) should certainly be covered. Emergency Medical Personnel should be well schooled to look for a "Medical ID" in case the patient is incapable of providing any information or referring them to your Road ID.

Since you are in a rural area I would contact the Local Fire Rescue office and inquire about their knowledge of Road ID. Putting them on notice that a "Road ID" exists might very well save someone's life. As a former Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot who flew for the civilian population of Washington State under Military Assistance to Traffic and Safety there was a tremendous difference between the Paramedics in Seattle and the services available through small volunteer Fire Departments in the rural areas of the state.

Check out Ride 2 Recovery. A Veteran's NGO that utilizes cycling as a tool for recovery. Great organization.

Again, thanks for your service!

As a paramedic, the information that would be useful to me includes:

Name and Date of Birth
Medical conditions that could be life threatening
Severe allergies, especially to medication
Certain medications like anticoagulants (blood thinners) or beta-blockers
Contact information for someone familiar with your medical history and who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unconscious
Donor status (though an ID band is not a legal document allowing harvesting of organs, it at least indicates your wishes)

There is no need to list your blood type. If you're seriously injured the first blood you will receive in any hospital is O neg, commonly referred to as trauma blood, which can be given to anyone. If your condition is less immediate, they will draw and cross match before giving you any blood. No medical facility would ever give type specific blood based on an ID bracelet. If you are going to use any abbreviations to save space, make sure you know the approved medical abbreviations.

Here is an example of an ID band that I would find useful:

John Q Cyclist DOB 4-13-1972
CAD, a-fib, Type 2 diabetes
Medications: Coumadin, Metformin, Metoprolol
Allergic to sulfa, PCN
ICE: Maria L Cyclist 444-555-6666 cell
Organ Donor

Of course how much information you can get on your ID depends on the brand and style. It is always a good idea to carry a picture ID with your name, DOB, and current address. With modern electronic medical records, hospitals can usually find your information quickly if they have proper means of identification.

Thanks for that simple idea - ICE info on the lock screen. Just made the change. Now lets hope its never needed.

Wow. I know mine are laying around somewhere... never thought about that. Great idea.

If you weren't in the military, or like me you got rid of the dog-tags, RoadID has them available as one of their choices.

Bill

Re dog tags, you don't really want your SS# out there for anyone to read, do you? Mine also say "none," or something similar, in the religion category and someone might interpret that as the answer to some more relevant question.

To the best of my knowledge, RoadID tags have just what you want on them, if the SSN# is used that is the error of the person ordering them. If you are referring to military tags, personally I would not be for using them for just the reason you mentioned, the religion is personal choice, I have a request for an Episcopal priest in the on-line information at Road ID, just something I wanted in the space for unclassified/non-medical stuff.

The "none" thing presents all kinds of interesting scenarios to my warped mind

Bill

I was referring to what's on my govt-rgulation dog tags. Name, SS, DOB,—everything you need to steal my ID at the worst possible time. "NONE" is right at the top. Who knows what a civ ER functionary would make of that.

I have a nice webbing bracelet that gives my info and my wife's phone number. I'm very glad to hear that responders look for these things.

Perhaps, but I think your making an incorrect assumption, namely that the EMT somehow magically arrives without first being called to respond. It seems very likely that the PERSON who comes across me, will notice the bulges in my tri pocket shirt and PERHAPS look for ID or contact info. Also it is standard procedure that when an emergency call for medical assistance goes out, it goes to 911 and police will respond and often arrive before the ambulance. If they don't check for info or contact info then it's a pretty sorry pd iMHO

Whatever. And good luck with that.

I wear my information around my neck on an elastic band.

Road ID.

This is a very useful post. I am revising the ID tags I carry and this seems very helpful. I have a Road ID wrist band and plan to get a dog tag as well. Having come across a few accidents and seeing what can happen, I am not a believer in relying on my jersey, shorts, phone or anything else being in tact if the worse happens: things can get torn off, thrown long distances, and such. If I just drop over, that is another story, but you never know......

Glad I came across this thread. I just placed an order for my RoadID. Very useful information, thank you!

Understood, if someone saw "None" on my dog tags, they would instantly assume it was the amount of Brain Matter inside my thick skull. I did choose the web model bracelet, I have several that I swap out as the sweaty one gets washed and dries out. I have absolutely no idea where my dog tags are, long gone now.

The limit is six lines on Road ID, I had most of what was said to be useful, above, not everything. With all my problems, and now Parkinson's Disease, the interactive type made sense. My wife has the stretchy, top level bracelet. I do have my wife's name and her cell phone number on the face plate of my interactive RoadID, in case some ER person doesn't want to fool with logging in at RoadID, and will call my NOK.

Bill

Road ID should have ankle bands where you can attached 2 or more tags. That would give plenty of space for all the info you want to convey.

For example, one for contact and a second for health info.

I wear one called GetMyID.com It has a QR code on the inside that, when scanned, links to my profile page that includes lots of good info for EMT's or whoever.

I lost my Road Id last december. I haven't replaced it yet, but I have a temporary "home-made" one I wear around my neck on a metal dog tag. It has my name, address, contact info , blood type and "NKA" for no known allergies. It's not as nice as the Road Id but it is serviceable.

On topic of phone IDs.. at least specifically for iPhones (not sure if android provides similar), I recommend anyone with an iphone to use the Apple Health app that comes by default on any newish phones to create a Medical ID page that is accessible from the lock screen without requiring unlocking the phone first (touching the "Emergency" link in bottom left of the lock screen). It's pretty much a no-brainer.

I never leave home without my Road ID. Besides my name I include the following , year of birth and 2 emergency contacts (name and phone number). I also have a unusual blood clotting condition that I included as well as the fact that I am on blood thinners. Of course I also carry my cellie with me and my wallet.

My Road ID is pretty basic. ICE number, NKA, My name and d.o.b. I always wrap it around my handle bars after each ride so I can't leave it at home. My wife is a huge fan of their app as well.

Well, after this thread , I'm considering either Road ID or something similar .