I spent the last 2 days as the XC steward at Surefire and I was surprised by how many folks (at least 80%) were still wearing arm bands instead of the bracelets.
I can’t imagine dealing with an arm band for 1 second longer than necessary. Added bonus, you can put on the bracelet in the morning and not worry about it all day, no matter how many layers you put on/take off!
Hmm, I’d venture a guess that most people already HAVE armbands. Not that I’m competing right now, but I have no intention of buying a bracelet. I have half a dozen plastic armband holders that are more than sufficient. :lol: And for some, maybe the cost is a factor. I know, I know, they aren’t that expensive, but still.
The local TD has said he VASTLY prefers armbands to bracelets, too. Much better to have the information right at hand without needing any equipment to read it.
[QUOTE=baxtersmom;7635844]
The local TD has said he VASTLY prefers armbands to bracelets, too. Much better to have the information right at hand without needing any equipment to read it.[/QUOTE]
Which is why I think the “online” information requirement is stupid…but whatever. And why I got a RoadID with 2 separate IDs, one interactive (just to make it “legal”) and 1 regular (so the pertinent information is actually on my person without needing any equipment to read it). I wear it almost all the time, not just when riding (I’m a vet that does equine chiropractic and acupuncture and you just never know what could happen).
I did the same thing. 1 bracelet, 2 badges. One to be legal, and the other with the information I would like readily available should one unable to communicate 
I totally plan to get a road id as I can’t stand my armband, but I just switched up health plans and wanted it out current info in it. Will probably do it before my next competition (I was one of the 80% at Surefire).
By this time next year I suspect many will have switched.
Warmup stewards (mr Asterix does SJ at Waredaca) do vastly prefer armbands…
I have a fabulous bracelet tan line from the weekend. 
I haven’t evented in almost 10 years, and probably won’t be any time soon. But I bought and wear a bracelet just because I walk my dogs alone all.the.time. Sometimes I have my phone with me, sometimes I don’t. And if I am not conscious, it wouldn’t help anyway. It has emergency contact info for my mom and SaddleFitterVA plus two lines that say “If dogs are present call C at 703-555-5555”
I’m on the fence about getting one. Some of the places I compete don’t have cell service which makes those bracelets worthless. On the other had, I had a wreck last year and no one referenced my armband. Maybe because I was able to answer questions still? Since I still have an armband my cheap side is saying save a few bucks and keep using it.
Here is the thing, EMT’s are not reading your arm band anyway. Don’t believe me, ask one
It may get read for emergency contact info once you are in route to the hospital, but they definitely aren’t going to look at it before you are stabilized. The main point of the bracelet and/or the arm band is that the information is available eventually, not at the exact moment.
I was really excited about wearing my new RoadID for the first time this weekend until just now…us competitors received an email saying that bracelets were not allowed owing to the event’s “remote location.”
So now I will be wearing an arm band that has my address from four years ago, the same one that also says I am pregnant.
I miss Area II terribly sometimes.
You can just print off a new card from the USEA site.
[QUOTE=Fergs;7636077]
I was really excited about wearing my new RoadID for the first time this weekend until just now…us competitors received an email saying that bracelets were not allowed owing to the event’s “remote location.”
So now I will be wearing an arm band that has my address from four years ago, the same one that also says I am pregnant.
I miss Area II terribly sometimes.[/QUOTE]
I was going to get one, but have now decided against it for two reasons.
Ferg, CO is not the only area with that issue. I heard that Waradeca has the same stipulation - remote location means no arm bands allowed.
Also, on top of the cost of the arm band, I need to pay $10/year for someone to scan the arm band and find out I have no allergies or medical concerns. It is not a lot of money, but still seems a waste to have to pay and renew every year.
The RideSafe bracelets are crap. Their manufacturing is horrible. My second bracelet lasted 2 months of daily wear when I noticed the contact numbers and the med ID were completely worn to illegibility. My old one, lasted 3 years. Obviously they changed suppliers and went the cheap route.
I like my armband. I wear and will continue to wear it even if I have a bracelet.
Reed
Aijerene, not sure where you heard that about Waredaca. I board there and promise you I can get perfectly good cell service from all over the farm except occasionally deep inside the bank barn.
Mr asterix runs SJ warmup at Waredaca and was not told (and did not himself tell any competitors) that we couldn’t accept bracelets at our most recent HT (3 weeks ago). If you are certain a competitor was told this, please let me know and I will take it up directly with the owner so we can clear this up.
[QUOTE=asterix;7636455]
Aijerene, not sure where you heard that about Waredaca. I board there and promise you I can get perfectly good cell service from all over the farm except occasionally deep inside the bank barn.
Mr asterix runs SJ warmup at Waredaca and was not told (and did not himself tell any competitors) that we couldn’t accept bracelets at our most recent HT (3 weeks ago). If you are certain a competitor was told this, please let me know and I will take it up directly with the owner so we can clear this up.[/QUOTE]
Maybe it was misinformation. It was the parent of another competitor that mentioned it when we were talking about the bracelets. It was a reason to not get them. Unless it isn’t cell reception they are worried about but data (I’m not tech savvy enough to know exactly, but there are places where I get bars but no G’s and cannot get online)? I am not sure where she got the information from, but she is not “gossip mill” type, so it was at least an apparently reliable source.
This conversation occurred after the event May 31/Jun 1.
I wore my armband because it lives in my trailer and I forgot my bracelets at home. But I have to order a new bracelet anyway as mine just has all my info on it and not the online requirement. Which is DUMB…my bracelet has the only info that I think emergency personal care about. It has my name and my ICE contacts…they are not really going to look at or trust any other info on it but I do I have a note that I have no allergies and no medical history/issues.
[QUOTE=sarapony;7636011]
Here is the thing, EMT’s are not reading your arm band anyway. Don’t believe me, ask one
It may get read for emergency contact info once you are in route to the hospital, but they definitely aren’t going to look at it before you are stabilized. The main point of the bracelet and/or the arm band is that the information is available eventually, not at the exact moment.[/QUOTE]
That part is scary because I have serious drug allergies to several drugs and Bee Stings…Reading my Arm Band could very well save my life. I have had my medic alert bracelet ignored in an ER and even with a Flagged chart been administered the wrong drug that was an almost fatal trip…My ever vigilant sister caught an nurse attempting to give me something during a 2nd ER trip …Health Care Workers…!!!
I like being able to put my RoadID on on Thursday and wear it all weekend - no chance of getting to XC and realizing I’ve forgotten it. The surprising part of it for me is that in two rated events, nobody has checked to make sure I have it, and it’s hidden under my sleeve in SJ and glove on XC. I also have an offline badge and an online badge like McVille’sMom and Aaspen. It’s such an improvement over the armbands, in comfort and ease of use.
[QUOTE=sarapony;7636011]
Here is the thing, EMT’s are not reading your arm band anyway. Don’t believe me, ask one
It may get read for emergency contact info once you are in route to the hospital, but they definitely aren’t going to look at it before you are stabilized. The main point of the bracelet and/or the arm band is that the information is available eventually, not at the exact moment.[/QUOTE]
Apparently the EMTs and local fire department deemed this weekend’s event location too remote for the bracelets to be suitable. If that is true (I have my doubts), then some of these folks are indeed looking at the information. The irony, of course, is that the information on the arm bands (mine anyway) is not as detailed or current as what’s on the bracelets (again, mine anyway).
Armbands and bracelets are really mostly worthless. I had both my armband AND a RideSafe bracelet on when I fell. Neither was once looked at. I think the rule on needing the interactive version is stupid, as well, since no one needs the info that is in either the armband or online.
Judy, if you have seriously allergies, consider getting a medic alert bracelet and wear it ALL the time. They will see that and look at it.
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