4 Emergency ID Options for Runners
For the last several years, I have run with a Road ID Original emergency ID tag attached to my shoe. The Road ID Original tag allows you to provide 5-7 lines of information (depending on the style of tag) for emergency personnel.
Mine has my name, address, phone number, my wife’s cell phone number, and my blood type. The Road ID Original costs between $16-$30. You can get a $2 discount by using this Coupon Code: ARR8627
Road ID also offers a Road ID Interactive tag, which allows you to provide emergency personnel with 1-3 lines of information (depending on the style of tag) and access to a secure, 24 hour Emergency Response System that can be accessed online or via telephone.
The Road ID Interactive tag costs the same as the Road ID Original and you get the first year of the Emergency Response System is free. Additional years are $9.99. Your Emergency Response Profile can contain your name, vital statistics, addresses (up to 3), emergency contacts (up to 5), physicians (up to 5), medical profile, photo, and additional instructions for emergency personnel.
Recently, two other emergency ID systems came on the market, the Invisble Bracelet and the NATHAN Vitaband. The Invisible Bracelet (iB) provides emergency personnel with the ability to use text messages to retrieve identification, medical information, and to be able to send a text message to your emergency contacts.
The Invisible Bracelet costs $10, plus $10 per year. You get 1 Invisible Bracelet (iB) card, 4 iB stickers, and 2 iB key fobs. Some marathons are providing trial access to Invisible Bracelet for their events. You can use the promo code MHR11 at the checkout for a 25% discount.
The NATHAN VITAband is a silicone rubber bracelet that holds an ID chip and an optional pre-paid debit chip that you can use to purchase things when you are on the run. The ID chip provides emergency personnel with access to Emergency Response Profile, containing your name, address, emergency contacts, medications, allergies, medical history, insurance information. If you want, you can also link it to your Microsoft HealthVault account to provide them with access to more extensive medical records.
The NATHAN VITAband comes in 2 sizes and 5 colors. It costs $20 for the band, $19.99 for the first year of service, and $34.99 for 2 years.
What do you carry for ID when you are running? Would you use a contactless payment system when you are on the run? Tell me in the comments.
Disclaimer: I received a NATHAN VITAband for evaluation.
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