I work with Firefighters and often go out to stations to deliver necessities. That means a lot of driving across the county to make sure I get to every station and to base camps, especially during wildfire season. If anything were to happen to me, I want to make sure that I get the necessary medical assistance as quickly as possible— for my family’s sake and for the Firefighters I serve. ROAD iD is one of those things you get and hope you never need. It has saved my butt a number of times when flustered in a hospital and can’t remember my details in the chaos of an ER or delivery room.
I hope that I never have to use it in a more serious situation, but I’m glad I have it. I had a stroke while driving the Pacific Coast Highway home from grad school in 2017 and a second one while 36 weeks pregnant in June 2020. ROAD iD helped me get the rapid care I needed in those situations. In 2017, I was safely able to pull over to the side of the road and call 9-1-1, but when the paramedics and Firefighters arrived, I was too out of it to share my name and health information. I just pointed at my watch and held it out for them with the ROAD iD on it. It was great because they were able to get me emergency care and in contact with my family to alert them of the situation.
In 2019, I was at home thankfully. I work with Firefighters, so I had my nearby Station respond to my call. While they knew a good amount of my personal information from working together, they still needed more. I was so worried about the baby that, again, I just pointed at my wrist for the ROAD iD. They did the rest to get me care.
I wouldn’t wear my watch every day until I went to grad school because I didn’t always need to. I’m so grateful that I started the habit again in 2017 and have continued it going forward. I don’t know if I would have gotten the rapid care needed without ROAD iD on my watch.
