This past Monday our machinist (and good friend) here at MotoCreations -- I found him unconscious at his house when he didn't showup as usual. In the proceeding hours after 911 was contacted and him being moved to the hospital (where he died Tuesday) -- we (myself and others who have known him 25+ yrs) had the most incredibly difficult task in contacting his family or people who might know his medical background and history. He had no emergency contact info in his wallet, on the fridge, in his house nor did he carry a cellphone. There were no prescription bottles, etc to help track doctors or medical. We ended up on a 5th handoff call only start to learn where his family was and that was hours later. Even today we still have been unable to contact everyone.
Point of this topic post -- please remember to make sure you have some kind of emergency contact info with yourself or available via friends. You don't want to experience the lesson we all learned here on Monday with fire / police / paramedics / doctors.
#1) ICE (In Case of Emergency) -- one can add a "ICE" phone contact with phone numbers beneath (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_case_of_emergency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_case_of_emergency))
#2) Put an emergency contact within your wallet
#3) Have an emergency contact in your home somewhere that can be readily found by friends or paramedics/fire department.
#4) Make sure a good friend or two has a family / emergency contact for yourself somewhere in case of emergency.
Why do? A few minutes today in creating the above just might save your life depending upon what happens to yourself later...
If anyone else has good suggestions -- feel free to post as well.
I am sorry to hear of your loss and thank you for the excellent suggestions.
Sorry to hear of you loss.
I also have medical information in a "pocket" that is attached to my helmet as well.
http://www.meds.org/mcyclehelmet.php (http://www.meds.org/mcyclehelmet.php)
Quote from: dolci on April 28, 2011, 09:10:28 AM
Sorry to hear of you loss.
I also have medical information in a "pocket" that is attached to my helmet as well.
http://www.meds.org/mcyclehelmet.php (http://www.meds.org/mcyclehelmet.php)
that's pretty neat
good reminder too.
As I know a lot of outdoor types the RoadID is pretty common in that set
http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx (http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx)
Might be a way to supplement the suggestions above
Every place I have ever work required me to fill out an emergency contact sheet.
Sorry for your loss.
here's another possible option-
http://www.utagice.com/ (http://www.utagice.com/)
mark-sorry about your friend
Sorry to hear the sad news Mark.
I used to have all the ICE info in my wallet. We've moved so many times though, I just haven't updated it. I do have a military tag though with my blood type worn on backpack when I ride. That's always good to have in case.
I've got a "what my family should know" document that has emergency contact info, location of will and other pertinent documents, insurance info, and other misc things that would be needed should I be unable to provide it. It's in a sealed envelope and a trusted couple friends (who would know should I disappear or such) know where it's kept.
I'm not sure how effective and ICE contact in a phone would be. Especially with the smart phones and people having them password protected.
I would second the RoadID route. Awesome customer service and good quality product that would be immediately visible to paramedics. I wear my dog tag RoadID whenever I leave the house. Super easy to update when things change.
Here is another option. The service is free.
http://www.aimncom.com/ (http://www.aimncom.com/)
Quote from: slowpoke13 on April 28, 2011, 05:51:05 PM
I'm not sure how effective and ICE contact in a phone would be. Especially with the smart phones and people having them password protected.
I believe there is a way for a smart phone to reveal only the ICE information...and apparently, most phones sold within the last year and a half, have a pre-programmed ICE file set in the unit for you to fill out...my phone I got last December has it and gave me the functionality to put more than a name and number, so I was able to put allergies and relationship information of pertinance to those names and numbers.
How useful are these over a normal alert bracelet? I'd like to get the RoadID dogtag but my fear is that First Responders won't recognize it. They have a bunch of designs and one is the medical alert one but I don't have a condition that warrants a medical alert bracelet. I guess it's not to big of an issue. I wish they had an ICE icon or something. It would be a shame to get something like this and have it completely overlooked because nobody knows what it is.
I've never looked up ICE on a cell phone. I look up mom, dad, or go to recents and see who they call the most.
Quote from: hbliam on April 29, 2011, 07:32:34 AM
I've never looked up ICE on a cell phone. I look up mom, dad, or go to recents and see who they call the most.
do you ever get their meth or blow dealer?
Quote from: Narflar on April 29, 2011, 07:01:22 AM
I'd like to get the RoadID dogtag but my fear is that First Responders won't recognize it...I wish they had an ICE icon or something
This is the real issue
all those products posted up have an equal amount of EMS industry attempts to do the very same thing
POLST registries
Vial of Life
Invisible ID
just to name a few
The medical alert bracelet is the only one I know of with moderate success
even if the only thing on it is "if I am unconscious call <insert contact>"
regardless of the product you choose to use make sure it has the RED Star of life on it
That is the universal symbol for look here for my info/condition
(http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/sites/default/files/0023/7374/brand.gif)
edit:
Keep in mind that EMS isn't looking for contact/medical info as a priority especially in a motorcycle crash
More than likely PD or the hospital will do that
First responder priority is to get you to the hospital as quickly as possible in as few pieces as possible
this is by no means a comment not to get an ICE bracelet in whatever form, just realise its secondary to making sure you are still breathing
QuoteFirst responder priority is to get you to the hospital as quickly as possible in as few pieces as possible
This makes perfect sense. So I assume once you are the hospital, if you are unresponsive for any reason, that's when they start searching for ID and contact info.
Interesting thread read. I am going on an Arkansas ride next week for 5 days. Several folks on the ride I don't know personally. This afternoon I spent some time on the computer typing out my personal info/contact info/medical info and printing it off. When I get to AR I will hand out copies of that info to at least 6-10 folks that I don't know and keep a copy wrapped around my drivers license. Other friends on the ride that I do know have had that info for years. I have spent time on the side of the road talking with EMS techs saying how I don't know this guy that crashed and I can give you zero info about him. Total bullshit! On my rides, if I don't know you, you had better give me and others ICE info or don't bother riding with us. That time on the side of the road with an injured rider that I didn't know absolutely sucked. Don't put others through that same frustration and grief. It's stupid and selfish.
Quote from: zooom on April 29, 2011, 05:49:51 AM
I believe there is a way for a smart phone to reveal only the ICE information...and apparently, most phones sold within the last year and a half, have a pre-programmed ICE file set in the unit for you to fill out...my phone I got last December has it and gave me the functionality to put more than a name and number, so I was able to put allergies and relationship information of pertinance to those names and numbers.
I can't find anything in the iOS software regarding how to put an "ICE" option on the unlock screen. It does have "emergency call" but that's just to dial 911 and such. If the Android or BlackBerry has it, someone rgr up to it.
Quote from: slowpoke13 on May 02, 2011, 05:23:27 PM
I can't find anything in the iOS software regarding how to put an "ICE" option on the unlock screen. It does have "emergency call" but that's just to dial 911 and such. If the Android or BlackBerry has it, someone rgr up to it.
Android has some lockscreen apps. Here is one. http://www.appventive.com/ice (http://www.appventive.com/ice)
I haven't tried it but it looks like it solves the lock screen problem, at least for Android phones.
This is another option.Its a bit more than just ICE info (which works everywhere), but also when at Home gives instant 911 and up to 6 defined Numbers with Autodialing technology. Highly Water resistant and No monthly fees.
Watch or Pendant
http://gosilverplus.com/ (http://gosilverplus.com/)
Quote from: ducatiz on April 29, 2011, 07:36:30 AM
do you ever get their meth or blow dealer?
I arrested a parolee with dope early last month. The great State of CA let him out a couple of weeks later. I was doing a parole search at his motel room last week and he wasn't home. His girlfriend was. He called while I was there and I answered her cell phone. Remember me? Yeah, but I'm not there ha ha. That's cool, I'll just take your GF to jail. She has warrants. Doh!
But back to ICE. Never use it. The ER staff might.
Quote from: Narflar on April 29, 2011, 01:48:31 PM
This makes perfect sense. So I assume once you are the hospital, if you are unresponsive for any reason, that's when they start searching for ID and contact info.
here is the sad reality
the first person who is truly interested in who you are
is hospital admin
so they can chart you and bill you
EMS will try to get name, DOB, PN and SSN
but if you are out, you will be Mr/Mrs Doe