Tell me if I am off my rocker or not, but.........

[glenngsxr]

My family was asking to me a few days ago about why I did not have copies of my health insurance card and a list of allergies(if any) nearby. The more I though about it, the more I realized that we should. Should we require a copy of an ID, health insurance, and any allergies to be carried somewhere? Either in a pouch on your leathers, somewhere in the pads of a helmet, or elsewhere? I could just imagine the consequences of giving someone Morphine should they be allergic. Thoughts? Glenn #62

[rybo]

Glen,

I believe this information is on the medical form you fill out with your license packet at the beginning of each season. The ambulance crews have all this info at thier disposal and arranged by bike number in the bus ready to go at a moments notice.

This was part of the reason for the move to having our numbers on our helmets this season.

Scott

[glenngsxr]

Scott,
thanks for the reminder. I forgot about that stuff and I was not aware that the ambulance crew had it also. Thanks. Glenn #62

[T Baggins]

Yup. The ambulance guys get copies of that stuff every weekend, and they are updated throughout the year (for new members, etc...)

If you all have changes in your contact, insurance, health info during the season... etc you can certainly update the form and give it to me and I'll replace the old one.

[dave.gallant]

I will post up more details in coming weeks, but due to HIPPA regulations patient privacy is taken to entirely new and absurd levels.

If you get hurt, even your spouse will not be able to handle x-rays or patient information unless he/she has the equivalent of a medical power of attorney for you.

I will find the forms and post them, but needless to say, it is very important that someone in all racer's family can access information directly.

[dave.gallant]

I will post up more details in coming weeks, but due to HIPPA regulations patient privacy is taken to entirely new and absurd levels.

If you get hurt, even your spouse will not be able to handle x-rays or patient information unless he/she has the equivalent of a medical power of attorney for you.

I will find the forms and post them, but needless to say, it is very important that someone in all racer's family can access information directly.

You owe it to your family to designate someone the power to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are ever injured (doing anything):

http://www.memorialhealthsystem.com/..._YourRight.pdf

[T Baggins]

Thanks Dave for posting the link to that. I remember Spidey Bob had a pretty neat program that he posted following his very serious accident at Pueblo, which included all that you posted and then some. Bob, if you're reading - maybe you'd put up a link to that again as well.

If anyone would like to include copies of this sort of stuff with their 2009 license application - I would be happy to maintain a copy (not the original) for you with your license, insurance and waiver infomation at the track.

Having the only copy of it in a lock-box in Denver won't be of much value if you are injured at Pueblo, PPIR, or Hastings...

We are all much more likely to be seriously injured or worse somewhere AWAY from the racetrack - so don't let the fact that race season is over convince you to put this sort of stuff off.

[dave.gallant]

We are all much more likely to be seriously injured or worse somewhere AWAY from the racetrack - so don't let the fact that race season is over convince you to put this sort of stuff off.

Tony is sooo right - Every ER visit I have had in the last few years has been in the off season due to my damn dirty bikes.

Even so - fill out the forms, make copies, keep them in your toolbox with your medical information and tell your better half where you keep that information.

We all fall down, and most of the time we all just jump right back up - so you will not need to use them 99.9% of the time. But, having it on hand might keep your spouse from freaking out on the hospital staff because they wouldn't let her see your x-rays. :shock: Not everyone carries around their entire medical history on USB flash drive and wears it around their neck like Mike Applsauce.

I almost think it should be mandatory that all racer's designate someone with the medical power of attorney. We are required to provide an emergency contact, but without a durable medical power of attorney, that emergency contact can not even handle your medical files to transport them to a specialist for a 2nd opinion to allow better decisions...

[bluedevil]

I was aware that the ambulance folks had it, yet I can see the point of it being so absurd for protection of privacy in that I am VERY allergic to Demoral (a common drug used in painful injury cases such as motorcycle crashes) and if they were not aware of refused the info that could be provided it would put me in a very difficult situation. Even though its on hand in the ambulance, it may not be a bad idea to have a pouch in your helmet or suit that held your ins. card copy and any lists of allergies to medications (at the very least) I think that will be on my list of to do's in the off season.
Good Idea Glenn.

[glenngsxr]

It will be on my suit, that's for sure. Time is of the essence in healthcare and if I can make it quicker by doing something to speed it up, I will. Glenn #62

[mbohn]

If anyone would like to include copies of this sort of stuff with their 2009 license application -

When will the 2009 app be available?

[rybo]

Marc,

Usually shortly after the banquet.

Scott