ID, emergency contact, medical info on flashdrives...

jen_slc · #1 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 10:26 PM

What do you guys think? Saw this on the news tonight. In the event of an emergency..... good replacement for those cards some of us carry, or medical ID bracelets? It doesn't appear to hold sensitive information. Is this something, on a keychain for example, that emergency responders will pay attention to?

I would like to post the website for these things, but not sure if I'm allowed since the website is also for purchasing the items? I just wanted to bring this to people's attention if they're looking for this sort of thing (and not wanting to wear a medical bracelet, necklace, or carry those cards...).

IdentificationDevices.net

Mods, please take this URL down if you need to.

BriOnH · #2 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 10:42 PM

I have a friend at work that has all his medical records on his flash drive attached to his key ring (and he is perfectly healthy). Not a bad idea to store medical records on it, and I think I will start carryng it with me when ever I go to the dr's, especially for x-rays, and eye pics, but don't think I will attach it to my key chain. My key chain is already bulky enough with the stupid (albeit very convienient) keyless entry remote. The ID logo on it is nice too if you carry it with you, but I'd probably by it cheaper with more memoy and use a sharpie if I were to carry it on me all the time

Funnygrl · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 11:24 PM

Quote:

(and he is perfectly healthy)

And that's why he can do that. If I tried to do that, I would go insane. Just prescriptions, exam records, blood works, and tests would be enough to send me through the roof. And of course you can't even begin to think of adding doctor's notes and such. Gah.

jen_slc · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 12:28 PM

I was thinking of it just as basic emergency info - contacts, phone numbers, diseases/conditions, medications, allergies - just the information that would be immediately useful in an emergency. I believe that's just about all you can put on there anyway, plus a DNR and Living will; you might be able to add a decent amount of notes, but it's only 16MB. I'm not sure I'd want to carry around my entire medical history on my person anyway, just the bare minimum to get me the immediate help I need.

BriOnH · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 12:36 PM

I bought an 8 gig flash drive just like that for 45$ off ebay (ok it doesn't have the cool cadacous and ID). I like the idea of having my medical records on it - espeically the major tests / exams.

blacklightmike · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 12:55 PM

In my bag, which is with me at all times, is a laminated card with all of my MD info, drugs and pharma #'s, etc. It has helped me immensely in ER and Dr. visits. A flash drive would also be a geat asset, but you could certainly put one together on your own for way less than the $25 they want from that website.

mzizgayle · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 12:58 PM

I wear my id on my watch (sm medical heart charm), it use to say see wallet, added T2 diabetes to it, and the note in my wallet lists general things wrong but also says to check palm pilot for list of drugs, tests, doctors etc

Gangrel · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 01:09 PM

I'ts a novel idea, but unless someone is walking around with a laptop open, i'd rather my Medic Alert bracelet, lol.

Easier to read the info on their with no computers!

Injecto · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangrel

I'ts a novel idea, but unless someone is walking around with a laptop open, i'd rather my Medic Alert bracelet,

That's exactly what I thought. If I'm at the beach and I go down, no one will have a laptop...or not likely. They might have a beer, but that won't help either, or, maybe it will LOL.

It's a cool idea and an obvious move into the future, but the utopic idea of a paperless society will never happen simply because of the needs to use electronics is still a bit too inconvenient and cumberson. (i.e. always having a laptop with you). Perhaps one day when we are all cyborgs with USB ports behind our ears it would be super viable.....

nneighbour · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 02:21 PM

What if it gets wet? What if it gets damaged when you have the accident that is sending you to the hospital? What if you forget your keychain? What if there are no computers?

I'm the type of person that goes for all the new technology, but this just doesn't sound like a good idea. I never take off my medical alert necklace, because it's in those weird situations that murphy's law seems to take over...

jen_slc · #11 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 03:06 PM

Yes, my thoughts too. Its usefulness/accessibility is limited to EMS, since they will usually have the technological capabilities, but not everybody who's down and out gets a 911 call for them. Though I am curious about that. I wonder how many emergency events occur in us diabetic folks where 911 is not called and it's the passers-by who respond completely on their own? Anybody have any clue?

Not that that helps much, since you will still have a delay in EMS getting to you on the beach, so a bracelet or card is still the best bet, assuming a passer-by knows what to do with an unconscious diabetic.

ladytaz · #12 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangrel

I'ts a novel idea, but unless someone is walking around with a laptop open, i'd rather my Medic Alert bracelet, lol.

Easier to read the info on their with no computers!

Totally agree with ya Aaron! Also, I don't think people realize, that Medics aren't trained to look at your key chain, in your pockets and purses for such things anyway. They ARE however trained to look for a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace! Another thing, God forbid, you are in a car accident .... do you realize that stuff goes EVERYWHERE in an accident??? They aren't going to be searching all over the place for your flash drive, a medical card, your wallet, or any of that!!

HelenM · #13 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 05:01 PM

It sounds useful device, but only if people recognise it for what it is and can easily access the information on it. Like others have said simple low technology answers are less likely to fail.

It set me thinking though I have a 'carte vitale' (entitilement to medical care) It can be read in doctors surgeries, hospitals, pharmacies etc and connects to a database containing my name, address, doctors name and long term 'maladies'. Gradually more medical details will be added (though supposedly protected by a pin number) I'd never considered its potential usefulness in an emergency.

nneighbour · #14 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jen_slc

a bracelet or card is still the best bet, assuming a passer-by knows what to do with an unconscious diabetic.

Don't you know? You're supposed to administer insulin.

JediSkipdogg · #15 (**permalink**) 03-08-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jen_slc

I believe that's just about all you can put on there anyway, plus a DNR and Living will; you might be able to add a decent amount of notes, but it's only 16MB.

You can actually get a decent amount if it's only text. Actually, alot. And you wouldn't want the documents saved in any special programs unless that program is on the device as well. What good is it to save the file in Wordperfect if the people that help you don't have Wordperfect or the correct decoder for Word or Works?

As for putting a living will or DNR on it, neither would be allowed to be followed. You could put the location of those documents but not the actual documents themselves. Both documents are legally binding documents that need to be signed and witnessed. I'm not sure, but some states may even want them notarized. Therefore you couldn't put the document on there as you could even modify a scanned copy for someone, slip it on there, then cause a huge legal battle if the document was false and used.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BriOnH

I bought an 8 gig flash drive just like that for 45$ off ebay (ok it doesn't have the cool cadacous and ID). I like the idea of having my medical records on it - espeically the major tests / exams.

They have a store near me (MicroCenter) that sells 2 GB flash drives for $16 ALL THE TIME. I've actually picked up quite a few that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gangrel

I'ts a novel idea, but unless someone is walking around with a laptop open, i'd rather my Medic Alert bracelet, lol.

What world do you live in? You don't carry a computer with you everywhere? ****, get with the 39th century.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jen_slc

Yes, my thoughts too. Its usefulness/accessibility is limited to EMS, since they will usually have the technological capabilities, but not everybody who's down and out gets a 911 call for them. Though I am curious about that. I wonder how many emergency events occur in us diabetic folks where 911 is not called and it's the passers-by who respond completely on their own? Anybody have any clue?

I'm not sure on that but I will say the number of diabetic emergency runs is extremely high. I work in a city that is 7.7 square miles, with a nightime population of about 10,000 and daytime about 75,000 people. We must get at least 2-3 calls for a diabetic emergency a day to businesses. Personally, it's crazy and they range from just a low BG to someone shaking to a diabetic unconscious. You name it, in a week with a diabetic we have a call for it. I'm sure there are lots of cases where the patients self treated or had assistance from co-workers with no squads called.