myID From LifeStrength

myID Band from LifeStrength

We bike and hike. Swim and surf. From the rapids to rappelling, we sometimes take risks. Even when we’re not taking risks, accidents can and do happen. Statistically speaking, Industry Outsider readers are probably more likely than the rest of the population to get injured outdoors somewhere. (But that’s still preferable to a heart attack on the couch, with a bag of greasy chips in one hand, the remote in the other).  That’s why it makes sense to ensure your emergency contact and medical information is handy when you’re out and about. Since we’re pretty partial to local companies, we reached out to Utah-based LifeStrength so we could have a closer look at their new myID band.

It may seem obvious, but your emergency information won’t do you much good unless it’s actually with you, and accessible. That ID card in your wallet won’t help first responders if you leave your wallet at home or in your car when heading out for a bike ride. So LifeStrength came up with a simple personal identification bracelet that’s attractive enough for daily wear, so you’ll never forget to take it with you. Emergency personnel are trained to look for medical ID, and the little graphic on the myID band will quickly get their attention in an the unlikely event of an emergency. On the back, they’ll find a QR code that can be scanned, which will bring up a log-in screen for the myidband website. When they enter your ID and PIN from the back of the bracelet, your information will be available to them. If they are not able to scan it, they can call the phone number on the back and speak to an operator.

Login screen for first responders

Out of the box, I knew I was going to like this product. The band itself is soft silicone rubber, so it’s non-irritating, and won’t snag hair on your wrist. The double-locking hinged clasp has a low profile and no sharp edges. Sizing instructions are easy to follow, and a little paper band makes it easy to determine the correct length on the first or second try with scissors or a sharp knife. Just remember to go one size up first, then snug as necessary. I like to wear mine loose, and even on a large wrist, that’s not a problem. Once it was sized, I logged into the myidband.com website, and set up my profile. Name, address, stats, blood type, and even a photo only took a few minutes. I added allergies, emergency contacts, multiple doctors, and my insurance. There’s room for vital conditions and medications too, but I didn’t have anything to enter. Once I was done, a quick scan from the native scanner on my phone brought up the option to open the URL, where I entered the ID and PIN, and was treated to a photo of myself and everything I would want a first responder to have access to, should I be found unconscious or incoherent.

myID Band from LifeStrength color options

Since I stopped wearing a watch years ago, it took me three days to fully adjust to wearing the band. For the first two days, I kept looking at it, as though it was going to show me the time. By the third day, it wasn’t even noticeable. A few people at work asked about it, and were surprised to learn that it had such a serious purpose. Apparently, it’s a bit more fashionable than the typical medical ID bracelet. After about a week of wearing it nonstop, I have no complaints. That included work, cycling, motorcycle riding, yard work, and some time at the computer of course. For extended desk time, some folks might want to take it off, but it didn’t bother me. Even getting dirt, sweat, and grime underneath it wasn’t terrible, but that’s why I wear it loose and I left it on in the shower.

The verdict is simple on the $40 myID. Easy setup, seamless to use, and always there when you (hopefully never) need it. Like similar products, the first year of the service is free, then it’s only $9.99 for each year after that, which is a bargain for your peace of mind. Of course, there’s a lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship. You’ll find them at the LifeStrength website.

*LifeStrength’s myID band features their Ion Health Technology, which supplies the environment around it with ions. Studies suggest that ions may help you feel better, wakeup refreshed, and have more energy. We have chosen not to attempt to evaluate those claims, but are providing this link to their website that explains Ion Health Technology in more detail.

– Brian

LifeStrength generously donated two myID bands for us to give away to our readers. So we’re giving one to an IndustryOutsider reader, and one to a Twospoke.com cycling forums member. The rules are the same for both: Leave a comment, and tell us why you need a LifeStrength myID. We’ll choose a random winner from the most entertaining, frightening, or humorous comments. Be sure to mention whether you prefer white/grey or turquoise/black, because those are your choices. Contest ends midnight, on Monday, July 1st. Good luck!

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Robb Wilcox

I can haz?

Spin Hansen

I’d love to get my hands on one of those. I’d hate to get hurt when disc golfing, hiking, or geocaching and NOT have my vital info available to whoever finds me. It reminds me of the time when I would’ve needed it most… a scout camp when I was 14.

My fellow Scouts and I, being stupid teenagers with not enough supervision, decided that it would be a great idea to toss an old lighter into the fire. (I was the killjoy who kept on saying “Geez, you guys, someone’s going to get hurt!”) There was a hiss… a pop… and then nothing. Everyone but me moved in closer to see why it hadn’t exploded… and then it went up. I was the only person in my troop who didn’t have burnt eyebrows. Luckily no one got hurt worse than that…

Sara Wootton

I am intrigued. My family have many illnesses in our bloodline. You can never be too cautious. I’d love to have one of these.

Sara Wootton

Might I also mention I love the white one and the blue one, and that we live in a mountainous region and tend to drink on weekends…. I’d rather not fall off a cliff, but if I’m gonna, I’d like to have one of these with me!

Matt Prather

Posting this on behalf of my 7 yr old son, as I have a similiar band already. His favorite color is green but he would be grateful for white! 🙂

Anonymous

I just crash often and need all the help I can get 🙂

Christi george

Smart and stylish. Fashionable and fun. Sign me up.

froze

It seems like a great idea, and it looks nice too, but that’s as far as it goes. I don’t understand why the thing just doesn’t have a barcode or a chip that can be plugged into and have all the info. Once you have the info there is no need for a $10 a year fee that will go up as years go by. Heck you can get dog tags made and do the same thing; Walgreens and CVS sell bracelets with emergency medical alert designs that all EMS people know about; in my seat bag I have an ID card, if I had health issues I could put another card in there for that. Today EMS has a method to instantly check your blood and get a type, so you don’t need your blood type listed anymore. And then I wonder, how many EMS services have the ability to extract that info?

Sorry, I just don’t see the point of such an initial expense plus a yearly expense on top of that.

Josh

I can see why you would initially think that. Dogtags and stickers are cheaper, and better than nothing in an accident. Unfortunately they carry minimal information and the information cannot be updated without purchasing a new one as it is engraved on the products. EMT’s are not allowed to plug in the USB ID’s often found at Walgreens and CVS that store your info on the device because they can potentially carry viruses that could crash their computers.

What the myID product offers is the ability to store much more info that would help someone save you in an emergency situation. Beyond your blood type and name, you can store all of your vitals, many emergency contacts in the event one cannot be reached, insurance information, and detailed medical info where needed. This is especially helpful if you are travelling out of state since most hospitals still don’t share medical information.

As for the cost of $9.99 per year. We offer a basic profile that is always free. You only pay for the premium profile if you choose. Also, what wasn’t mentioned in the article is the QR code access to your online health profile is backed up by a 24/7 emergency call center. The $9.99 per year covers the cost of operating the call center as well as keeping your data secure and covering the cost of storage for uploaded documents on your profile.

Hope that helps.

Ryno

I have a roadI.D. already but this looks pretty cool as well!

Brian

I’m a little slow in posting this, but Sara was randomly selected as the winner.

Thanks to everyone that participated!

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