[QUOTE=gr8fulrider;7460732]
It would be cool to see this product incorporated into a watch (said the English major/lawyer whose sole engineering credential is that I read Popular Science on the commode).
Would cut down on how much stuff you have to pack and wear.[/QUOTE]
The engraved sleeves on the Road ID’s look like you could easily slide them onto the band of a watch.
[QUOTE=xcjumper;7458964]
YB-This has been my contention all along. As a first responder, I don’t give a rats ass about the damn armband or road ID or whatever…There is NO info on there that is helpful in an emergency situation.[/QUOTE]
This is what I think. Past medical history doesn’t come into play in an emergency stiuation. The only cricial consideration would be allergies to any medictions, and these should be worn on a necklace, if they might be emergency given. Even then, most emergency personel are going to take care of the patient and ask question later. Any medical history at all is going to come up much later in your care. I wouldn’t get all worked up about any of these IDs.
[QUOTE=saje;7460511]
Personally, I go by what a RULE says, not what a press release says, even a USEA press release. If I have a question about interpreting the language of a rule I contact USEA and direct my question to the appropriate person or department.
Press releases are all well and good, but I don’t treat the words in them as gospel.[/QUOTE]
Unfortunately there seem to be a lot of people who do so, as everyone replied to the USEA’s Facebook notification with “Where can I get a Ride Safe bracelet?” I actually asked on the FB announcement if RoadIDs were OK, and they said they were.
That being said, EventingNation did the same thing – they did sort of make it seem like Ride Safe was the only product available. (Full disclosure – my vets own Ride Safe, but I actually only have/use a RoadID based on timing and preference for a nylon band… and I don’t wear it while I’m riding. Yet.)
However, based on the congratulatory reactions I saw on Facebook, both venues (EN and USEA) wouldn’t have had to mention Ride Safe at all and RS would still get plenty of business since a number of pro riders use them. Plus, as Dr. Chad said in the EN comments section, you have choices and they encourage you to pick based on your preferences. 
I’m still probably going to still wear my armband, as I only have one RoadID (for now), and swapping it between my bike and trailer is going to bite me in the arse someday. (Kind of like how I swap my EZPass between car and truck b/c I still haven’t gotten a second one. :winkgrin:) Plus, Having my insurance info on the armband is also helpful as I remember there’s all sorts of billing/paperwork even for a non-emergency ER visit.
Can’t we all just get microchipped and be done with it. :winkgrin:
As a first responder, I am not going to take the time to call a number, look online, or upload your info from a flash drive. I want something I can glance at, and get answers. The police will want name and emergency contact if you are unconscious. But, honestly I could care less. I don’t need an address (I’m taking you the the hospital, not home). Don’t need blood type. No hospital will take your say-so on blood type. They will run their own type/cross. I want allergies (especially medication allergies), I want current medications, and I want pertinent medical history (diabetic, seizure disorders, heart condition, etc)
[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;7460789]
Can’t we all just get microchipped and be done with it. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I’d actually be ok with that too. 
[QUOTE=ceciley13;7460833]
As a first responder, I am not going to take the time to call a number, look online, or upload your info from a flash drive. I want something I can glance at, and get answers. The police will want name and emergency contact if you are unconscious. But, honestly I could care less. I don’t need an address (I’m taking you the the hospital, not home). Don’t need blood type. No hospital will take your say-so on blood type. They will run their own type/cross. I want allergies (especially medication allergies), I want current medications, and I want pertinent medical history (diabetic, seizure disorders, heart condition, etc)[/QUOTE]
What about past/recent concussions? (Not that I’ve had any.)
[QUOTE=ceciley13;7460833]
As a first responder, I am not going to take the time to call a number, look online, or upload your info from a flash drive. I want something I can glance at, and get answers. The police will want name and emergency contact if you are unconscious. But, honestly I could care less. I don’t need an address (I’m taking you the the hospital, not home). Don’t need blood type. No hospital will take your say-so on blood type. They will run their own type/cross. I want allergies (especially medication allergies), I want current medications, and I want pertinent medical history (diabetic, seizure disorders, heart condition, etc)[/QUOTE]
The question I was asked a million times between hitting the dirt and going under for surgery was if I had any allergies. That was it. Nothing else.
[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;7460640]
I like the idea of the bracelet versus the armband, very much. I’m trying to compare Ridesafe with RoadID in between assignments at work. Anyone with a verdict on which is the better deal. $35 is a bit pricey and I need to buy two. It does seem like anything at all to do with horses automatically doubles the price.[/QUOTE]
From looking myself yesterday:
RoadIDs are $17.99 (slim) to $29.99 (elite) with the median being $19.99 (sport, shoe, ankle). Annual service fee is $9.99. Replacement/additional bands are $1.99-3.99 and replacement metal IDs $15.99-16.99.
RideSafe is $35. Annual service fee is $3. Replacement/additional bands are $25. FAQs state that they have a replacement metal ID made and ready to ship should you lose it… but don’t mention price for just that. Only that replacing the ID & bracelet if you lose the whole thing is the original $35.
Just a few of the other options via a Google search (though there are MANY more!):
Lauren’s Hope Medical IDs (For those who want something pretty, but I don’t think they have an online system… just 5 lines of text.) Similar are Creative Medical ID, N-Style ID, etc.
Medical Alert ($30-55 membership, free basic ID, online & 24/7 call service)
Vital ID Sport ID ($12-15 on Amazon. No online service - you write on a paper and insert in the bracelet so more like the armband, just easier to wear.)
Sports Tag ID
American Medical ID (They have the USB dog tags as well.)
ID Tags Online
ETA: The rule states, “If wearing a medical bracelet, any relevant medical history injury (particularly to the head) drug allergies and current medication must be included in the online medical form of the bracelet’s vendor website. Athletes are responsible to record all injuries on the card. or in the case of a medical bracelet, update their medical information online,” so not all of those I posted from a Google search would work necessarily for events. I would assume, though, that any variety with an online system is okay.
FrittSkritt, yes that sort of neurological medical history could be helpful, but more important would be ongoing neurological conditions such as seizures
Yellowbritches: that’s because we can kill you by giving you a med you are allergic to. Pretty much all the rest of our treatments come from our assessment, and most medical history is not going to change how I treat you in an emergency. When you fall off, and are unconscious with broken leg and internal bleeding, it won’t change my treatment if you had your appendix removed, have migraines, or have arthritis in your knee. But if you are go to surgery, you will get an antibiotic, we have lots to choose from, let’s not give you one that will put you into anaphylactic shock. Or if we send you to CT scan, and you have a shellfish allergy you can have a reaction to the contrast dye.
[QUOTE=GutsNGlory;7460893]
Just a few of the other options via a Google search (though there are MANY more!):
Lauren’s Hope Medical IDs (For those who want something pretty, but I don’t think they have an online system… just 5 lines of text.) Similar are Creative Medical ID, N-Style ID, etc.
…[/QUOTE]
There’s also Endevr, which seems a bit overpriced ($129, seriously?!)… but hey, some people are into the whole “energizing minerals/ions/magikal magnets.” :winkgrin:
As someone who takes care of unconscious trauma patients, the only info I really want are any severe chronic conditions (type 1 diabetes, heart arrhythmia), anaphylactic allergies, and knowledge of a few critical medications (anti-coagulants, chemotherapy.) Most of the time we have none of that and we figure it out anyway. But if I was riding with any of those concerns, I would wear a medic-alert bracelet at all times anyway. Emergency contact # is also very useful, especially if you are planning to ride/compete alone.
I think the ridesafe electronic medical info is a neat idea and better than the useless armbands. I will probably use one instead of an arm band the next time I compete (a year at least!) However, in my line of work time from hitting the ER to being in the operating room is often 10 minutes, during which everyone is frantically saving your life. I can see us sending an intern down to look at your online medical info 2 hours later.
Someone mentioned concussions and whether they should be recorded - I would say no. History of prior concussion really won’t factor in to the emergent evaluation of a head injury. It will come in useful during long-term followup, but not at the scene. However, if you have a STRUCTURAL brain abnormality (cyst, prior stroke, tumor) I’d have that on a medic alert bracelet. I’ve run into a couple of occasions where we assumed something was acute in an unconscious patient only to later learn it had been known about for years and was non-contributory.
[QUOTE=ceciley13;7460895]
FrittSkritt, yes that sort of neurological medical history could be helpful, but more important would be ongoing neurological conditions such as seizures
Yellowbritches: that’s because we can kill you by giving you a med you are allergic to. Pretty much all the rest of our treatments come from our assessment, and most medical history is not going to change how I treat you in an emergency. When you fall off, and are unconscious with broken leg and internal bleeding, it won’t change my treatment if you had your appendix removed, have migraines, or have arthritis in your knee. But if you are go to surgery, you will get an antibiotic, we have lots to choose from, let’s not give you one that will put you into anaphylactic shock. Or if we send you to CT scan, and you have a shellfish allergy you can have a reaction to the contrast dye.[/QUOTE]
I get that and that was my point: why do we need all the other unimportant information on our armbands or accessible online. If I can ride with out of date info for 8 years, EVEN WHEN MY ARMBAND IS CHECKED, what is the point of all this? I can see having ICE numbers and allergies, but why do I need to have my address, my doc’s name and number, my insurance info, and all the rest? And, again, how are they going to enforce that you the info online? I actually have never carried through with putting my info on the RideSafe website, enough though Dr Stephanie has hassled me regularly about it (like FrittSkritt, they’re my vets, too). My bracelet has the most important info needed on it. Up until I needed to replace my armband, that info was more current!
[QUOTE=blackwly;7460940]
As someone who takes care of unconscious trauma patients, the only info I really want are any severe chronic conditions (type 1 diabetes, heart arrhythmia), anaphylactic allergies, and knowledge of a few critical medications (anti-coagulants, chemotherapy.) Most of the time we have none of that and we figure it out anyway. But if I was riding with any of those concerns, I would wear a medic-alert bracelet at all times anyway. Emergency contact # is also very useful, especially if you are planning to ride/compete alone.
I think the ridesafe electronic medical info is a neat idea and better than the useless armbands. I will probably use one instead of an arm band the next time I compete (a year at least!) However, in my line of work time from hitting the ER to being in the operating room is often 10 minutes, during which everyone is frantically saving your life. I can see us sending an intern down to look at your online medical info 2 hours later.
Someone mentioned concussions and whether they should be recorded - I would say no. History of prior concussion really won’t factor in to the emergent evaluation of a head injury. It will come in useful during long-term followup, but not at the scene. However, if you have a STRUCTURAL brain abnormality (cyst, prior stroke, tumor) I’d have that on a medic alert bracelet. I’ve run into a couple of occasions where we assumed something was acute in an unconscious patient only to later learn it had been known about for years and was non-contributory.[/QUOTE]
I’m confused. If First Responders and trauma surgeons want allergy and medicine information available without having to go online to get it, it makes sense to me that it would still be required to be accessible on the bracelet without the use of the internet, etc. How many times is live scoring down at events because of trouble with internet access? With these new approved bracelets, is that type of information still displayed for the EMS to read on site or do they have to look it up? If it’s not available, then why would you, a medical professional, switch to the bracelets?
The bracelet idea is appealing for show jumping in particular for me. It’s a pain to be warming up without a jacket and have to switch the arm band around when you put your jacket on to compete. I know with the one days you tend to be in xc gear for sj so that’s not an issue.
[QUOTE=NCRider;7460960]
I’m confused. If First Responders and trauma surgeons want allergy and medicine information available without having to go online to get it, it makes sense to me that it would still be required to be accessible on the bracelet without the use of the internet, etc. How many times is live scoring down at events because of trouble with internet access? With these new approved bracelets, is that type of information still displayed for the EMS to read on site or do they have to look it up? If it’s not available, then why would you, a medical professional, switch to the bracelets?[/QUOTE]
I was going to ask these exact questions. Thanks for this post, I look forward to the answers.
[QUOTE=NCRider;7460960]
I’m confused. If First Responders and trauma surgeons want allergy and medicine information available without having to go online to get it, it makes sense to me that it would still be required to be accessible on the bracelet without the use of the internet, etc. How many times is live scoring down at events because of trouble with internet access? With these new approved bracelets, is that type of information still displayed for the EMS to read on site or do they have to look it up? If it’s not available, then why would you, a medical professional, switch to the bracelets?[/QUOTE]
You get to choose the info that is on the tag. I am looking at the RoadID Sport and took a look at their samples for the interactive version. You get 2 lines to customize. I think mine will read:
My Name
NKA/ICE: my contact’s number
The rest is dedicated to the interactive info. So at a glance the first responder can see my name, the fact I have no known allergies, and an emergency contact. The rest of my medical info can be found online.
ETA: This option works for me because I have nothing special to be worried about medically. It might get harder for those that do.
[QUOTE=scubed;7459262]
As someone who spends a ton of time as SJ or XC warm-up steward, this is not going to make me happy. If you are wearing long sleeves, you will have to take your hand off the reins to push it up to show the steward you are wearing the bracelet and it will be much harder to spot check if the bracelet is really yours/has the correct ID if it is the type where info is online, not typed on the bracelet.[/QUOTE]
I am curious about that too… Unless they will now require that bracelet number and have to check it before they approve the entries… but who wants to do that, not to mention adding even more time to approving entries. And it still doesn’t improve the issues for the stewards making sure the person is at least wearing something under jacket/shirt sleeves, on top of the account number being under the bracelet so checking if you have an account online on site right before you go would be near impossible…
Thanks for this. Sounds like RoadID is probably the most reasonable. And what Sedona suggested for going on the faceplate makes good sense.
Not an eventer, but after browsing through this thread I did order a bracelet since 99% of the time I’m riding by myself in the middle of nowhere (endurance rider).
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