| Author | Message | ||
     Joebuell |
In another thread, I flippantly mentioned to a new rider to put his emergency contact info on the front of his helmet.... This got me wondering; I have seen many riders put all sorts of medical info on a helmet. Blood type, wifes phone number, religious order, etc. I even remember one time seeing a service that would put all of your medical information on a tiny piece of film to be "blown up" by the paramedics. Is all this wasted effort? As a paramedic are you actually going to start a blood transfusion in an ambulance? And even if you did, would it ever actually be done using information you got off the vic's helmet? What if any information would actually be useful for first responders to have that would be gleaned from a helmet sticker or patch? I'm thinking not much.... | ||
| Dentguy |
I'm not a responder, but I have a small packet that holds info stuck on the outside of my helmet near my strap. Got it at a track day. I think allergies and medical conditions are things that would be very helpful along with the other stuff. | ||
| Aesquire |
Medical conditions, allergies, blood type, contact info. You seldom get blood in an ambulance. It's too fragile to leave in a hot vehicle, and cross matching is not going to happen in a moving vehicle, so they carry saline, ( with various additives for different conditions ) and maybe plasma. I suppose the real question is ...medic alert bracelet or dogtag vs. helmet. I look at the helmet in a crash situation, but I'm race track trauma trained, and it may just be ignored by someone who finds a lid distracting to the cues they were taught to look for. ( ear color, soft spots..etc. ) My attitude has always been to leave on the protective gear, unless it absolutely had to come off. If you can't remove your own helmet, it's going all the way to xray. ( like I said, I'm the high impact trauma mode trained type, not typical of small town ambulances. ( that said the guys from Pittsford & Watkins Glen NY would surprise you with the skills ) | ||
| Xl1200r |
I have one on my helmet, also from a track day. For me, there's really nothing of any value in there. I'm not on any meds, I have no allergies, and there would be nothing relevant in my medical history that my physician could tell them. The only useful bit of info would be contact info for my parents, but this is also stuff they could find in my phone pretty easy as I list them as "Mom" and "Dad" (everyone else, including my girlfriend and brothers, go by first name last name). All that said, I think it's a good idea to have one since not everyone is like me and past surgeries or current meds are important for a first responder to know about. I hope they do look for them - I've been meaning to make an Emergency Contact entry in my cell phone as well. Hell, I don't even know my blood type.... | ||
| Greg_e |
My Shuberth helmet has a little compartment on the outside of the helmet that has operating instructions so you can flip the chin up, as well as room to write in any information you would like to share. | ||
| Ratyson |
I have an "In Case of Emergency" entry in my cell phone with my wife's contact info in it. I can tell you from experience (with my Mom) that folks don't seem to pay any attention to medical bracelets. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Wearing a "dog tag" with that info would probably be more usefull since they don't like to play around with helmets unless absolutely necessary. Especially since a 1st Responder doesn't have the training to remove helmets. Steve Mackay has a decal on his helmet that I want. "Do Not Remove Helmet Unless by A Trained Paramedic" or close to that. Paramedics almost always check for wrist bands and chains for medical info. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
None of this has ever crossed my mind before. I think I'll put something on my helmet just in case.. | ||
| Circusninja |
BuellInAChinaShop brings up a great point. In the event of a crash, one of the last things they will do is take off your helmet. Taking off a helmet usually moves the neck and that is a no no. Dog tags and wrist bands would be easier to get to without potentially worsening spine injuries. If you are unconscience they will likely cut off your clothing anyway. (I know this from experience) | ||
| P_squared |
A "Do Not Remove" sticker on the helmet. Keep med info on a bracelet, dog tag, or in a VISIBLE place like the outside of your left sleeve. Blood type probably isn't critical. Allergies, current medications, emergency contacts, etc. are always a good idea to make available in a VISIBLE place on your person. We used to write the necessary info in black sharpie on our field uniforms. An arm band wouldn't be a bad way to go either. e.g. http://www.drivingessentials.com/pop%20up%20pages/ safety_armband.htm Just my thoughts & YMMV | ||
| Delta_one |
that armband looks just like my old flight line badge holder. they are ok but 10 bucks is excessive. I just wear my old military dog tags and have emergency contact info in my phone. | ||
| Court |
When I was doing long distance testing I had red and yellow laminated tags with my Name Emergency contact Blood type No Allergies I have one one each side of the swingarm (crashed motorcycles seldom come to a stop standing straight up - I know. . . I know . . Ron Major) I affixed one to the top of my helmet with packing tape and one in the clear pocket of the tank bag. I wouldn't leave without it. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Most EMTs and paramedics are trained in proper helmet removal and if need be they will remove it if your life is in danger no matter the risk of spinal injury. Never saw anyone look at a cell for info in field or ambulance so keep info on your person. Meds,allergies,and the like are good to include, blood type not useful in field as mentioned. | ||
| Slaughter |
Here's what I've been told out here in racing - the EMT's will only need to know the meds you are taking, and any specific medical conditions (diabetes, etc). ALL OTHER issues will be verified in the ER. THEY NEVER trust dogtags, tattoos, etc UNLESS those are defining a specific condition. They don't even ask us for our blood type anymore when filling out our forms (as has been said, they don't have blood on the ambulance) - they type you in the ER. Contact info for YOUR OWN DOCTOR is critical. HE/SHE has your records and WILL BE CALLED and also has all your emergency contact info on file. Trust me, they'll check every last piece of info they can find on you - wallet, pockets etc for med info and insurance contacts. Of course, if you're Pastafarian and don't wish Buddhist last rites be given, you may want that tattooed on your forehead. NOBODY will take med info off of a helmet but MIGHT take contact info. Blood Type Tattoo would be different - but that kinda fell out of favor since the German SS did it during WWII Put an ICE listing on your cell for a first responder | ||
| Ourdee |
ICE = In Case of Emergency That is what I have my wife's number listed as in my Cell phn. Illinois will check your cell phone for it. | ||
| Chippy |
i've been to plenty of motorcycle accidents, and while i've seen plenty of helmets removed properly by paramedics, i've never once seen any of them look inside for information. that's crap the hospital is supposed to deal with. i have seen police officers at a scene use a victim's cell phone, though. | ||
| Aesquire |
There are odd privacy issues involved, but, I never bothered to check a cell phone at an accident, I'm sure not calling next of kin while I wait for the ambulance. Handy at a later stage of treatment/investigation, though. You look for vital signs, obvious broken bits, and ask the poor sod questions if awake, look for bracelets & neck chains, ( and sometimes they are not accessible without moving the patient. major No-No that, until the backboard is handy. ) In insane conditions, like halfway down a cliff, where you get the patient into a Stokes stretcher with all possible care, and then haul him up the mountain, or out of the woods over roots, rocks & gulleys, just to get to an ambulance, the information gathering stage is over & just keeping him alive & not breaking him any more takes over. Not easy 5 miles from where the ambulance can get to, or 450 feet straight down from the road. | ||
| Slamber777 |
Working full time in EMS this is what's important to us in the field and initially at the ER. Pre-existing medical conditions. (Chronic, surgical, past major injuries) Current medications taken. Allergies to Meds. Full name. Date of birth. SS number. Contact info. Your blood will automatically be typed and crossed in the Lab. They will not take the chance that your written info for blood type is absolutely correct. Type it all out on a card, laminate it and put it in your wallet right on top. The officer will go for your wallet for information first thing. The hosp admissions clerk will want to see the same info as well. lf you don't want the SS# & DOB on it for security reasons, that's Ok. lt helps the Admissions clerk complete a face sheet but, isn't as critical as the other stuff. Make sure you update any changes. Our protocols state that we will usually take the helmet off. We are trained to do so. The helmeted head doesn't usually allow the head and neck to lay on the same plane as the spine. BUT, for instance, if your leathers have the "hump" in back removing the helmet may not be the best idea. Kind of a case-by-case sort of thing. Knowing how to safely remove a helmet AND how to correctly support the head and neck are critical in the care of a downed rider. So, if your aren't trained, you're best to leave it to the pros. Hope this helps. | ||
| Skinstains |
So are you telling me that a DNR tattoo on the chest won't be respected ? | ||
| Slamber777 |
EMT says to the Paramedic, "l've seen United States Marine Corps tattoos but, Department of Natural Resources?!" Nope. | ||
| Skinstains |
No no no, you got it all wrong. It's Do Not Resesitate. Now I know why it's DNR, no-one knows how to spell resesitate. | ||
| Slamber777 |
 Actually, Your Doc will have to tattoo his signiture in there to make it legal. (Message edited by slamber777 on November 06, 2009) |
