Medical aid if the worst happens

[Andreas_187]

Please forgive my ignorance on all medical aid related matters, I'm originally from the UK where we don't need it.

My question is how will the emergency services know that you have a hospital plan in the event of an accident where you are incapable of telling them yourself?

[Stretch]

Have your details available to the emergency services by either wearing a ice id bracelet or installing the ice app on your phone or having a contact in your phone called ice with the relevant person to contact in case of emergency

[barrykm]

+1 ICE ID

 

https://www.iceid.co.za/

[ChrisF]

Andreas the hard reality is that without medical aid you are NOT going to get good (prompt) service ...

 

 

I have stopped at the scene of an accident - two motorcycles.  The guy with medical aid (details in his wallet) was air lifted and got immediate and best possible help.  The other gent lay there bleeding away on the tar for more than an hour until the government ambulance finally showed up ... followed by hours of waiting for assistance in a government hospital.  Took more than a year to recover fully.  His doctor told his mom that if he had medical aid and got immediate medical assistance he would have been okay in a few months ...

 

 

 

We carry a laminated card in our wallet with all our ICE details

[Allrounder]

I have an extra copy of my medical aid card in my saddle bag. 

[2bliss]

Also swear by ICE ID: www.iceid.co.za

 

However, depending on any medical conditions you may have or medications you are taking, it is also a good idea to carry a laminated card with more info - wallet, bike and car.  (ICE ID bracelet can only accommodate limited info.)  Put the card somewhere that would be obvious for the EMTs to look.

[Mudsimus]

In the event of a serious accident the EMS will transport you to the closest equipped trauma icu. This might be a government hospital, even if you have the best medical aid. I was involved in a car accident a few years ago, my wife provided all the medical details to the EMS crew, but they still transported me to a government trauma facility. You will only be moved to a private hospital when you are stable.

[Long Wheel Base]

Have your details available to the emergency services by either wearing a ice id bracelet or installing the ice app on your phone or having a contact in your phone called ice with the relevant person to contact in case of emergency

So I did the ICE thing in my phone contacts years ago. But now my phone can only be unlocked via finger print or pin code and I don't think this unlock feature can be deactivated. 

[2bliss]

So I did the ICE thing in my phone contacts years ago. But now my phone can only be unlocked via finger print or pin code and I don't think this unlock feature can be deactivated. 

 

Unfortunately, phones also tend to disappear at accident sites, so I would not rely on an app either.

[shaper]

So I did the ICE thing in my phone contacts years ago. But now my phone can only be unlocked via finger print or pin code and I don't think this unlock feature can be deactivated. 

check this https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2489237,00.asp  most phones have the option to add ICE which can be accessed even with a locked screen

 

Also here http://ktla.com/2017/03/10/how-to-put-emergency-contact-info-on-your-phones-lock-screen/

 

Edit: I have and ICEID wrist band, my phone has ICE and I also have a SafetyQRCode on my helmet http://new.safetyqrcode.com/en/

[WR 1.0]

So I did the ICE thing in my phone contacts years ago. But now my phone can only be unlocked via finger print or pin code and I don't think this unlock feature can be deactivated.

Same here. Company requires encryption and security on our phones as we have clients info in emails. Mine is setup with fingerprint unlocking. Also carry ice bracelet (emergency contact details) and second one attached to helmet (medical aid info). Copy of medical aid card and expired drivers license in small holder in back pocket. That's obviously when I'm out cycling

[Andreas_187]

Thanks for the info, so the bottom line is to make sure I have medical aid amd ice information on me and/or bike which should be easily found by emergency services at the scene. I think I'll get am ice band.

FYI most phones have an ICE contact that you can fill in in your contact list and you have the option to display this on your lock screen

[FrikkieMeyer87]

I have a MedicAlert bracelet which contains all my pertinent medical information, emergency contact details etc. It's costs R25 per month and for that price, first responders need only reference the number on my bracelet in order to obtain all my information including existing medical conditions and details of my family GP and contacts. I used to wear a dogtag with all of this information, but since I've been diagnosed with Haemophilia B, I have to take some additional steps to avoid becoming a red puddle on a berm somewhere.

[ChrisF]

So I did the ICE thing in my phone contacts years ago. But now my phone can only be unlocked via finger print or pin code and I don't think this unlock feature can be deactivated. 

 

Exactly why we went for the "laminated card" with our ICE info.

 

This in our wallets, and in the glove-box of each car.

[ChrisF]

In the event of a serious accident the EMS will transport you to the closest equipped trauma icu. This might be a government hospital, even if you have the best medical aid. I was involved in a car accident a few years ago, my wife provided all the medical details to the EMS crew, but they still transported me to a government trauma facility. You will only be moved to a private hospital when you are stable.

 

The fun starts when the accident is along a mountain pass, or similar remote location.

 

Government ambulances are SLOW !

 

If the first responders gets all your relevant information they can immediately call medi-vac or similar as per your medical aid options.  This will certainly take you to the nearest private hospital.

 

 

My personal experience after a motorcycle accident - paramedics ASKED me to which hospital I wanted to go.  But I was stable and a femer fracture was hardly a critical injury.  When it is a matter of life or death it would most probably be the closest/fastest option.

[Red Robin]

My second car accident was odd. The government ambulance must have been literally driving past as it was immediately on the scene and transported me to the private hospital but I was sort of conscious and may have indicated that I was on medical aid.