ICE - In Case of Emergency

[Keith]

Please keep reading, this is important.

The recent crash that Toby got caught up in has made it apparent that there's a lot more that we as riders can be doing to facilitate the availability of Emergency Contact Details in the event of an accident.

This information isn't only to inform next of kin of what's happened, it can also be vital in helping to get the best possible medical care for anyone injured. Next of kin will be best placed to give information such as drug sensitivities, pre-existing conditions, blood type, etc. (Please note, I don't believe in Toby's case he suffered any lack of care, we just spent a frantic few hours trying to get in touch with his family.)

It's not just for those who road race. Any activity in life comes with risk and things can happen on any ride be it club run, off-road, time-trial, whatever. No one solution exists, but it's important that you make it as easy as possible for the emergency services to help you.

By doing some or all of the following, you'll best help yourself and others in the event of an accident:

• Fill in the ICE section of your ACC membership card and carry it with you whenever you ride.


• Put an ICE entry in your phone. (I realise that few race with their phones & many have a keycode lock.)


• Write it on the inside of your helmet. I've now got my name, date of birth (there may well be more than one person with your name on the NHS records) and an ICE number.


• Write it on your race licence.


• Whenever you sign on at an event, fill in the details, even if you've done so many times before.


• I'm also proposing that the club could hold details as part of the membership database. Club officials (VCs, etc) will have access to this, so information should never be more than a few phone calls away.
  
  
  
  • I'm suggesting that the membership application form be updated to include up to 2 ICE numbers with a name against each. e.g. 07800 123456 Michelle (Wife).
  
  
  • This won't work for existing members, so I'm offering to be a focal point for anyone who wants to provide ICE details. Send an email to ice_acc "at" hotmail.co.uk with this information and I'll enter up to 2 names and numbers into the membership list.


• Remember to keep the information updated if your details change.

Thanks for reading.
Keith

[Dan_K]

All excellent points Keith.

in addition, I always ride wearing a Road ID bracelet too for when i'm not out with the club.
There are several versions on the market or you could do a Blue Peter job I suppose.....

[Ivor]

Same here, I always have a [url=http://www.roadid.com/Common/Catalog.aspx?C=RoadID]Road ID[/url] band on if I'm racing/doing any distance.

[Keith]

Thanks to everyone who's already sent their emergency contact details.

The rest of you - keep 'em coming - ice_acc "at" hotmail.co.uk

Keith.

[Keith]

[size=75]B[/size][size=100]O[/size][size=125]I[/size][size=150]N[/size][size=175]G[/size][size=200]![/size]

It only takes a couple of minutes to write that email. You're sat infront of the computer. Why not do it right now?

[Keith]

[size=200]B[/size][size=175]O[/size][size=150]I[/size][size=125]N[/size][size=100]G[/size][size=75]![/size]

Please keep those details coming.....

[Andrew G]

Having now got one of those poncy smartphones with a touchscreen where you can put shortcuts I've added an ICE contact as a front screen shortcut. Maybe worth considering for similar poncy phone owners.

[kieran]

Keith, I have just sent an email with my details, I always carry a laminated credit card sized card with info on it. I have also ordered these [url]http://www.iceid.co.uk/products/INSTANT-ICE.html[/url]

[Tim Coales]

Done!

But as an insulin dependent diabetic i always have my Next of Kin ID tag on my keyring and ACC membership card with ICE in my pocket

After 18 years, I actually needed assistance in the street one day while having a bad hypo (low blood sugar). I was just recovering when an ambulance called by a kind passer-by turned up. How embarrassing was that!

[Dombo]

Tim, if we're riding with you and that happens should we give you sweets eg jelly babies or dried fruit or chocolate eg mars bars or similar? what about the energy drinks such as GO? Just wondering because a colleague of mine always carries a mars bar, especially when travelling on the tube.

[Tim Coales]

Of course it shouldn't happen because I should maintain good control! but if it did, I usually have some glucose tablets and a couple of Jacobs Fuesli bars in my pockets, failing that anything you suggested, or orange juice/non-diet Coke is good, depending where we are.

The signs are that I start to get very confused, (a bit like a drunk, but not loud) and perspire even though I might be just sitting down. I guess untimately I would keel over, but that's never happened yet.
Interestingly, I have always woken up if I go hypo in the night (except once when my wife said I started convulsing, she couldn't wake me so called an ambulance and they injected me with some sugary solution). When I came round, I thought it was all a dream until I found a few tell-tale signs and she told me what had happened!

Thanks for your concern.

[Marcus]

[quote="Dombo"]Tim, if we're riding with you and that happens should we give you sweets eg jelly babies or dried fruit or chocolate eg mars bars or similar?

[RachelB]

[quote="Keith"][size=75]B[/size][size=100]O[/size][size=125]I[/size][size=150]N[/size][size=175]G[/size][size=200]![/size]

It only takes a couple of minutes to write that email. You're sat infront of the computer. Why not do it right now?

[Dombo]

[quote="Andrew G"]Having now got one of those poncy smartphones with a touchscreen where you can put shortcuts I've added an ICE contact as a front screen shortcut. Maybe worth considering for similar poncy phone owners.

[Tim Coales]

A 330 ml can seemed to do the trick, I'd just recovered when the ambulance arrived and I thought "oh no, I can't believe this has happened!"