You keep your cell phone on your person for safety, but do you do this?

[Fred W]

The company that I work for owns the crackberry I carry, and insists that it is password protected and locked to protect their IP.

Most phones will allow a 911 calls and will also receive calls without unlocking, but you won't get any ICE or identity info out of it. So it's a good idea to put some of that info on the "locked screen" display

 

[gixxerjasen]

Just calling the authorities is fine.

This. It's the most important part. Notifying the wife will be good, especially when she checks google latitude and sees me at the hospital, but not a necessity at the moment.

 

[BigOgre]

Like most, my Razr Maxx will let you make an emergency call if the screen is locked but it also has the nifty feature of an ICE button for anyone to use, with the owner deciding what info he/she wants to input. Still, someone has to think to look there.

Have thought about this more than once.

 

[scubatech]

My concern about keeping the phone on you is that you have a tendency to land hard and roll. In two of my crashes I've landed on my keys one time and on my wallet another. Both of which ended more painful and with more colorful bruises than if I'd landed without. If you land on your cell phone, you are quite likely to destroy it. To me, in the end, it comes down to the fact that you are damned if you do and damned if you don't, but neither option covers all situations and neither is better than the other.
As far as knowing my wife's phone number, it's one number different from mine, so that makes it easy.

When I crashed a few years back my puched a hole in my ribs. I used to carry it in the breast pocket but now it lives in the glove box.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Said this before, but it was overwhelmed by the condom thing. And it is Friday. These things are cheap and always on you, including the gym, the shower, and on the motorcycle. Whatever you're wearing. All the contact info you need, and found all over the 'net.

"When I crashed a few years back my puched a hole in my ribs. I used to carry it in the breast pocket but now it lives in the glove box."

That DOES sound dangerous. I'll never carry a again.

 

[gixxerjasen]

When I crashed a few years back my puched a hole in my ribs. I used to carry it in the breast pocket but now it lives in the glove box.

Your what punched a hole in your ribs?

 

[beemerdons]

When I crashed a few years back my puched a hole in my ribs. I used to carry it in the breast pocket but now it lives in the glove box.

Your what punched a hole in your ribs?

gixxerjasen, if I remember the circumstances correctly it was scubatech's cell phone that cracked his ribs on impact. I have the old style larger cell phone, mine would bust my ribs also if I carried it in an upper pocket of my riding jacket. scuba tech also rides off road up in Colorado, so it may have been a dirt bike crash; hope he'll respond, it was years ago.

 

[Knifemaker]

How about one of those "tag" boxes that anyone can read from their phone (with a tag reader) that opens a web page with your info on it?

You see them in magazines and such. You could conceivably have one embroidered to your jacket , or pants or made as a sticker you can put on your helmet.

Soft, uncrushable, and not breakable.

 

[FJRGuy]

A couple bucks for a dog tag is not too bad, but $20 - $30 bucks for a RoadID? I gots better things to throw my money away on!

I keep my phone (and spot when I carry one) on the bike. If I get tossed, I'm guessing the bike won't go too far without me, and if they can find the bike, they can find me.

Was thinking maybe adding some "In Case of Emergency: Call 911" but I figure most people already know that!

 

[FJRGuy]

How about one of those "tag" boxes that anyone can read from their phone (with a tag reader) that opens a web page with your info on it? You see them in magazines and such. You could conceivably have one embroidered to your jacket , or pants or made as a sticker you can put on your helmet. Soft, uncrushable, and not breakable.

I'm thinking you are referring to QR codes! Below is a QR code for the KBB site. I have one on by Rider card (a business card with my personal contact info for networking with fellow riders.) Problem is they are still not universally known and most people don't know what to do with them.

 

[Fred W]

A couple bucks for a dog tag is not too bad, but $20 - $30 bucks for a RoadID? I gots better things to throw my money away on!

+1 on that. I guess the bigger effort should be on not stackin' it up to begin with, right? And then if you do... well you know the saying: You buy yer ticket and you takes your chances.

How about one of those "tag" boxes that anyone can read from their phone (with a tag reader) that opens a web page with your info on it? You see them in magazines and such. You could conceivably have one embroidered to your jacket , or pants or made as a sticker you can put on your helmet. Soft, uncrushable, and not breakable.

I'm thinking you are referring to QR codes! I have one of those on by RiderID card. Problem is they are still not universally known and most people don't know what to do with them.

I think for any EMT that doesn't know what a QR code is, well... you probably don't want them knowing your vital stats anyway.

 

[FJRGuy]

I think for any EMT that doesn't know what a QR code is, well... you probably don't want them knowing your vital stats anyway.

Really? I'm not sure why I'd expect an EMT to know what a QR code is, unless they have a bit of a tech geek in them. QR codes really aren't that popular. I see no reason why they would need to know. It'd be nice if they knew but I'd rather they be on top of their first aid game.

 

[Knifemaker]

QR... Yes that's it. But...Microsoft has "Tag" and a "Tag Reader".. Guess its like VHS and Beta...ones more popular now?

I've seen too the "dog tags" you can wear that hold tiny USB drives that can hold your entire medical history.

Guess I'm not that paranoid about all of this. Out for a long trip where there's no cell phone signal would be moot as my "In Case of Emergency" contact is more than likely riding behind me.

I know EMT's are supposed to check your wrists and neck for medical alert brackets. Don't see why you couldn't use these for other info.

 

[HotRodZilla]

So...From my point of view...Since my guys and I are often the first people to show up at a crash. Believe it or don't, and it is not all encompassing. Take from it what you want:

Wallets: Most EMS services won't go through your wallet. Too much liability due to past silly lawsuits and claims of theft. Since the cops are usually gonna show up anyway, that usually falls on us.

If an emergency card is tucked away in your wallet, not obviously under or attached to your DL, we prolly won't see it. Most often, we're not looking for that. We get the DL, run the info and get an address from that and the plate. So...as a first step, please make sure your address on your registration and DL are correct.

We will try to get info from your phone. Locked phones are useless. My Droid has an emergency button where I have medical and contact info listed. This can be done with the phone locked...But if its smashed, it's useless also.

Dog tags are a decent idea, but people wear so much useless jewelry that they may get overlooked.

Sorry, but a QR code with your info on your jacket is an idea that definitely has not met its time. If I saw that on someone's jacket, and realized it wasn't some novelty BS, I'd have to download a QR reader. I mostly ignore them, as a lot of us do. We also don't like using our phones to look up people. Then what happens if it's torn, muddy, bloody or whatever??

Honestly, the best idea I have seen are the jackets with the red shoulder pocket and cross that's labeled "Emergency". If I found one of those, we'd be sure to check it.

There are lots of options, but if you keep a laminated card, keep it near your wallet, and maybe use a red index card. If it's in some obscure pocket, it'll prolly get overlooked.

 

[beemerdons]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Wowser, this is a highly informative and very intelligent response from HotRodZilla. I would have to believe that Space Aliens have captured the real 'Zilla and have replaced him with one of their own intelligent Spacecraft Crewmen, they probably have taken our own goofy HRZ back to the Galaxy for further examination!

 

[gixxerjasen]

Yea, I've also had my doubts about the usb stick thing. Good to know on the dog tags, I always figured that might be kind of obvious.

HRZ, what's your thoughts on putting blood type on these kinds of things? Would they go by it or are they going to just test anyway before doing anything?

 

[Wlfman]

I use one of these: https://www.aerostich.com/emergency-medical-information-pocket-2.html

Off road its velcroed to the side of my helmet. Street riding its on the sleeve as in the photo

 

[HotRodZilla]

author="gixxerjasen"Yea, I've also had my doubts about the usb stick thing. Good to know on the dog tags, I always figured that might be kind of obvious.

HRZ, what's your thoughts on putting blood type on these kinds of things? Would they go by it or are they going to just test anyway before doing anything?

Honestly, I don't know. I don't know that I've ever been to a crash where the person had their blood type listed somewhere obvious. Also, I'm not EMS, so once they put them in an ambulance, I don't really know what happens next.

I would bet that due to liability, they will go with O-neg until they verify blood type. Personally I wouldn't risk someone's life or my job by believing what someone says is their blood type...No way to tell how they came to that conclusion or if it's even correct.

I don't know where people get their ideas, but EMS is NOT "required" to check a persons neck and wrist for bracelets or dog tags. Bracelets are probably easier to see because they lift sleeves to administer IVs. If you have a broken femur, a necklace may not get seen. However if we're seriously injured, they're prolly gonna put EKG leads on anyway so dog tags will get seen then.

I like Wlfman's link. Those are the easiest to see and will get checked. I just don't know how I will secure it to my Tour master. I think adhesive would peel off.

Remember this: Contacting your loved ones falls a distant second to both EMS and law enforcement. Our primary jobs are to save your life and investigate a potential crime scene...So make it easy for them, whatever method you choose.

 

[BigOgre]

FWIW, I can say that even on the other side of the country, the picture HRZ paints is spot on. While all should obviously try to see the big picture, each first responder has a role and his/her actions will probably be geared towards accomplishing the tasks they're responsible for. I say that though from the viewpoint of an urban/suburban response and wonder if some of the roles don't overlap more in a rural/remote area.

I would like to add one thought here. While training of PO's and EMS personnel will tell them not to assume the obvious, it's hard not to jump to conclusions say, for instance, when you pull up to a bike laying outside a curve and the rider down. Hopefully though your rescuers will consider the not so obvious and look for any possible underlying causes to the incident. This is probably preaching to the choir but should you happen to have any atypical medical concerns, eg. implants, seizures, medical allergies or anything else you might imagine being engraved on a medical-alert tag, this info is most likely more important to relay on than your spouse's work number. Even an updated list of current medications would be worthwhile to the hospital physician. But as HRZ alluded to, most field personnel are not going to take the time to search for this. If you would like something known, make it in-your-face noticeable and easy to quickly access.

Re. that Aerostich sleeve. That's really nothing more than a red pocket. How about an oversized, bright red zipper pull? Maybe even with Emergency or ICE imprinted on it. Thinking here about those novelty "Remove Before Flight" tags. It would be functional as a zipper pull, can be used with any gear you have and what may be best of all, would allow the rider to choose what pocket he/she would like to use for holding the info.

 

[James Burleigh]

As I've written before and on a related note, do you keep your"In Case Of" info on you when you are exercising?

I was in the health club of an airport hotel in Asia last year and a fellow passed out. All he had was his magnetic generic hotel key card.

Clearly, he was from some other part of the world and nobody had the slightest idea who he was or where he was from.

The staff had to take his key card to the front desk and after too long a wait, an ambulance was called. If he'd needed a heart pill, had a stroke, stayed unconscious, or something else more serious, we couldn't have learned how to help him fast and he would've been up **** Creek. Fortunately, he was a stressed dehydrated pudgy guy trying the hotel fitness center and just ended up going to the hospital for the cut when he whacked his head, coming off the treadmill.

In most of my life, my wallet and Blackberry screen have plenty of ID and ICE info. But ever since that event, when exercising,

I simply write a couple of ICE phone numbers on a business card and put that in a pocket.

When my adult (20's) kids are home and they go out running, I say, "Do you have identification on you?" To which the inevitable response is, "Oh, dad. Nothing's gonna happen." What can you do?