I had my Road ID bracelet for only a week before having to utilize it. I rode my bike to a meeting 18 miles away in a light tail wind of about 10-12 mph. (If you live in Minnesota, as I do, you either ride when it’s windy or you don’t ride.) According to the weather the wind was supposed to die down a bit, I knew I would be riding againsta mild headwind on the way home. Yeah, right!Now, being a diabetic I check my blood sugar before and during such a ride, and made sure I had eaten a good meal prior to starting out. After my meeting, I ate some snacks and had an orange juice. My glucose levels were right where they should be. But, rather than subsiding, the winds intensified to 26-27 mph with gusts over 30 mph. I quickly depleted my glucose stores and all of my snacks. I was about 3 miles from home when my legs could not even turn the pedals, and I also found myself wandering all over the lane. Recognizing I was in trouble, I pulled over and set the bike down. I sat down as well.
I remember having my phone out and a water bottle, but I couldn’t figure out what to do with them. Several cars passed me by but one kid from the local high school stopped. When I wasn’t making much sense he saw my Road ID wrist band and called my emergency contact, my daughter. My daughter sent her husband to pick me up along with an orange juice.
I was running low, but thankfully, someone else stopped by with a soft drink. So I was recovering a bit by the time my son-in-law arrived with orange juice and a truck.
As a retired paramedic I must emphasize the importance of wearing identification. I can positively say my Road ID has already been worth what I spent on it.
- Joseph .D from Janesville, MN
