[Closed] ICE ID thing

Thanks project - I know Rachel from the Chron, we thought he might have been one of ours at one point. We had a new runner about that time with a similar tattoo. Sad story that took a long time to come out.

I use MedicAlert - very similar to RoadID. Diabetic so handy to let the 'lucky' person that finds me know...fortunately never had to have it used.

I've always assumed they were a bit of a waste of cash to be honest unless you have some rare disease/issue that might cause an immediate problem. In fact I'd venture to say that having one on when you don't have any existing issues is possibly psychologically removing some off the importance from those who DO have issues and wear a band/tag to say so. If every day the medics get people in with little bands all over them saying "I'm allergic to X, my blood type is Y" and it's no use to them, the next time someone lands with a real issue they may ignore the tag.

I always carry a phone and my wallet, in my wallet I've a driving license, 3 bank cards, a blood donor card and an organ donor card. If found by medical professionals I want them to concentrate wholly on fixing me, THEN finding someone to tell when they know a little more about it. The last thing my parents/GF needs is a call saying coffeeking has had an accident, we're not sure about his status yet but we'd like you to know anyway.

FWIW smart phones, at least androidy ones, can specify their lock screen wallpaper. Just mod the one you like with your ICE number visible.

I have always wondered why rally drivers have their blood group painted on their car door though, if medics always have to test first.

He asked if the emergency services would look at his wrist for contact details. Emergency Services people above have said no they wouldn't they are more interested in saving your life. However they then qualified that the Police do the finding out contact details bit later.

**Smacks head**

Last time I checked the police are an emergency service. Medical people have said they're too busy saving your life, but it's been widely acknowledged that it may well help in identifying you, ergo to say it's pointless because A&E doctors will ignore it is seriously short sighted IMO.

Just me?

I don't think ID'ing anyone would ever take people away from the medical team - it's a job for an extra nurse / receptionist to do, so it's not like we'd ever call your wife in leiu of performing CPR...

Re: Blood types - in some circumstances knowing your blood group is worthwhile, but only if that result is validated and 100% reliable. For example, army grunts have their blood group on their dog tags so they can get type-specific blood sooner. Clearly that system works otherwise they wouldn't do it. However, if someone rolls into A+E with a tag bought over the internet by some company with very little vested interest in their health, well, I wouldn't trust it, and that person would get O -ve blood if they needed it, prior to more accurately-matched blooded becoming available (typically around 15 minutes for type-specific blood).

So who's the rider found in a bad way on the Pennine Bridleway near Rochdale today then?

I'm all for proper risk analysis rather than scaremongering. It takes no effort to wear ID, no more than wearing a watch, and costs very little, less than a watch. In an accident it may be invaluable. seems a reasonable trade to me.

How about a dog tag (actual doggy tag) on your keyring? Or something on your wrist - engraved that you always wear?

This is why everyone should be chipped and gps tagged at birth 😉

Why not one of these on your keyring?

http://www.pettag.co.uk/acatalog/info_466.html

Its particularly poignant to me as in hospital I was asked for my next of kin who I couldn't remember. I gave the Doctor my phone who then asked for my pin (which I couldn't remember). Eventually they accessed my phone (maybe I remembered my pin?!) and had to ring a few numbers as I still couldnt remember mrsHora's name 😆

you can set the 'lock screen' on your iphone to give emergency info withotu people havign to unlock it;

eg (sorry for big image)

[img] [/img]

fourbanger - Member
I don't really get the ICE thing. Assuming you have ID and can be identified, what can a relative do apart from bring you flowers in your hospital bed or switch off the machine.

I'm surprised the docs don't see medic alerts useful for underlying medical conditions like diabetes as presumably you'd rather know that the patient brought in with "normal" blood sugar levels and a head injury is going to to get more complicated as the day goes on rather than working out afterwards that they have diabetes.

If you want to do something useful with your phone though to make life easier for your loved ones in the event of your sudden death - can I suggest marking/categorising people in the phone as those that matter and those that don't! Its bad enough having to go through a phonebook calling people to tell them you are dead, without phoning your hairdresser, taxi driver, etc...

I have a road ID bracelet that I wear anytime I'm out on the bike either alone, or with mates. It's just automatic for me, put on helmet and road ID then go ride.

Intitially I thought it was a bit of overkill, but after a couple of close calls when out on my own I'm glad that I wear it.

Can't see the point of this at all.
1) never take a phone with me on the bike anyway so no need for ICE.
2) What's the point of blood group, allergies etc, as above, unless you have some extremely 'different' medical condition.

Can't see the point of this at all.

Really? You see no point in carrying any form of identification, so that if you are hit and critically injured no one knows who you are?

[i]Really? You see no point in carrying any form of identification, so that if you are hit and critically injured no one knows who you are? [/i]

Correct.

I agree. If I were smashed up in an RTC (and I have been) being adressed by the right name or title is the least of my worries.

being adressed by the right name or title is the least of my worries.

especially if remembering it in the first place might be a bigger worry

Hmmm interesting.

Six months ago I was found semi-conscious lying in the middle of a road. Had road cycled from home so wasn't carrying ID and live on my own.

I have no memory of accident or where it happened or why. Then lost consciousness until 11.30 pm when I woke up in hospital in excruciating pain.

My family did not know what had happened until I was discharged 3 days later and phoned them.

I have just bought an ICE wristband. This is mainly because not very many of my friends have my wife's number. If I was to fall and break a pretty major bone I am not sure I would want or be able to get my phone out and call her, but I would hope to be able to show someone the number to call. It would not be for the medics/emergency services, but more for the people I am with