Tats with lifesaving info

[Charlie Mike]

I got the barcode, blood type, and social security number before I went to Iraq. Thankfully I was never wounded too badly. Anybody else have anything similar?

 

[Scott Free]

Not for me, thanks. Do you think the bar code is crisp enough to be read? Have you tested it?

 

[Charlie Mike]

The barcode is totally fictional. I have tried to scan it and wasted 10 minutes of my life. Also, after service, I had the first 2 blocs of my SS# blacked out.

 

[caine]

cool ninja tat

 

[Kiah]

I can't imagine in a life or death situation where you need blood, the docs are even gonna notice that tat.

The SS number for all to see seems like a bad idea.

Does the barcode do anything or is it just for looks? I haven't seen any medical facility that scans barcodes from people, but I haven't seen many medical facilities.

Edit: Answered two of my questions before I hit submit.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Does anyone put their blood type on their gear?

 

[stabman]

Medic Alert tattoo on right wrist. No other tattoos near it, so it will stand out and be noticed.

 

[Flotsam]

Most people I've seen personally w/ such (usually it's the blood type patch on gear) things, have done it more for the HSLD appearance, than real utility. They have seemed kind of deflated when told that it's just another extraneous thing that will play little to no role in their care, should they ever require care.

I've had people volunteer their blood type, when told they need a transfusion - it doesn't matter what you say. You get universal donor, until the type & cross is completed.

Even if they notice the blood type tat, they wouldn't trust it. You would get type O until a type and crossmatch was completed, then you would get type specific. A blood bank won't release type specific until they've run the proper tests.

 

[caine]

i did

 

[Charlie Mike]

I love tats... my arms are 80% sleeved.

 

[hollowdweller]

I can't imagine in a life or death situation where you need blood, the docs are even gonna notice that tat.

Sad but true. I read about a guy the nurse even marked which foot to operate on with a magic marker and the doctor actually cut into the other one before realizing his mistake

 

[Bushman5]

i have my blood type and my allergy info on a couple of CADPAT velcro patches. They go onto my admin pouch in my pack.

 

[thebladerunr]

It actually used to be very common. On the ribs under the left arm. Basically guys would get their ID/dog tag tattooed on. It was called a "meat tag" Not so poular anymore as it is proof you served in the military which "is not cool" anymore in a lot of circles.

 

[Charlie Mike]

My section Sgt had one on his left ribs. That was his only tat.

 

[ohen cepel]

Little reason to put blood type on your gear except tradition.

By the time you get to a location with that is going to give you blood of a type your gear will be long gone. Plus, they will type you with the lab rather than going off something that may or may not be right.

The blood type markings may have made sense at one time, but not now.

 

[chuck buck]

haha, yes actually. i have my name, birthdate, and burial religion tattooed on the dogskin on my pelvis.

 

[Shoki]

It looks like your tattoo above the barcode says "through the screams of falling stool".
I'd probably scream if stool was falling too.

 

[Charlie Mike]

That was from a song by VNV Nation. "through the screams of falling steel - by the light of flares and wisdom" I got that buzzed on after the war.

 

[MM]

It looks like your tattoo above the barcode says "through the screams of falling stool".
I'd probably scream if stool was falling too.

LOL I read it the same way. I thought it was a SHTF reference.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

Here's an idea for at tat:
http://www.netknots.com/html/bowline.html
Just the 3 pics.