Medical Id Question for the EMT guys.

[Goody]

I just got a new Medical ID Dog tag.  The place that I got it had a discount on another one that was A dog tag with a USB Drive built in.  Darn thing is pretty neat and holds more information than you ever could put on it.  Your medical information comes right up on a easy to deciper screen as soon as you plug the usb drive into a computer.  My question is do most EMT teams carry a laptop? 

[Whistler]

I think more and more are going to onboard laptops for reports. But even if they don't, all Hospitals have computers for sure. I have not seen those my self, but will have to look for them. JDW

[cwl3gemt]

A lot of the smaller rural volenteer ambulances will prolly not have a laptop in the unit. We have one, but we dont carry it with us in the unit. In a larger more metro area its a 50/50 shot around here if they have one int he unit or not.

[Jack]

I wear dog tags with contact info, blood type, etc when riding but that flash drive is a great idea.

[Capt. Morgan]

As has been said, a lot of ambulances don't have computers in them. The flash drive would be more of a help at hospital, especially if you were unresponsive and no one was with you to inform of more detailed medical problems.
When we arrive on scene our main concern is to stabilize and then get to hospital as soon as possible. We may not know how long you have been down, so time matters. To load a flash drive and read info would only delay, unless it was being done en route, and that might not be able due to injury/illness.

[Oss]

good idea

i have taped to my modular  helmet my name allergies and contact emergency #'s. I should get one of those id bracelets as I would hate to survive the accident only to be killed by the hospital doctors due to an allergic reaction


where did you get yours?

[fudgie]

We carry Panasonic Tought Books in all our trucks. To be honest, I or we, would never look for a flash drive. It has never been brought up as a source for medical info. Most of the time we would be to busy to use the computer. Its second nature to look in a wallet, around the neck, or for a bracelet. Its easier to read. Alot of riders keep it in there wallet and sometimes the wallet is in the saddle bag and we never look through the bike. Something visual is good. Makes it 'medic proof'!  Best bet is a necklace or braclet. Because 99% of the time if you wreck on your bike your gonna be stripped nekkid, and we will notice it. Most can tell your medical history by the meds you are on.
Alot of departments will not have a computer. They are pricey. I think ours were 5-8K a pc. You should be ok in the big cities.

Oss, is in your helmet or outside? Sometimes your helmet my not be removed until you get to the ER. If you have allergies to meds it maybe be to late.

[Goody]

Here is the Link to the usb drive medical ID's
There is also an online regestry that you can dump medical info to.
http://www.americanmedical-id.com/marketplace/category.php?scrollcat=acc_emedtag&pullid=110&mastercategory=accessories&bbscrollerpage=1