Portable Patient Records with USB

Travel with your emergency medical records, and your MP3 and Word files too!

Nov 14, 2006

The Zaptag Emergency Record plugs in a USB port & contains all your emergency medical records in case of accident. Use it for MP3 files, Word and other documents too.

Although not specifically for UK travel, the Zaptag ER device is from a British company and deserves all the attention it can get. It's a tiny storage device which plugs into any USB port and carries on it your emergency medical records, detailed patient information, notes on your important medical history, details of inoculations and your blood type – in fact anything you can think of that comes under the heading of your portable patient records.

The ER is nothing to do with ER, the TV series, but just stands for Emergency Record. The Zaptag device is incorporated into a rugged wristband, so you're not likely to lose it, and comes in 256mb or 512mb versions. There's also a waterproof version that's more like a conventional USB plug-in device. It's only just over 5cm long, which includes both the USB connection (covered by a plastic protector) and the little handle on the end, which enables you to carry it round your neck.

The Zaptag comes with an auto-load and with software installed, enabling you to log in and immediately start entering your medical history, in the unlikely event you have an emergency or an accident when you're traveling. I was browsing the options within a minute of plugging it into my home PC. You can also back up your records using the Etag service on the company's website, for a double-dose of preventative electronic medicine. Software updates are available too. You can also leave details of your password here, in case you forget it, but the emergency medical information on the Zaptag is available with or without password protection.

I can see lots of travelers making use of the Zaptag – divers, skiers, families, people on expeditions, skydivers, anyone venturing into more remote parts of the world. There should even be plenty of room left over to store some of your favorite MP3 files, and other essential documents too. Perhaps even the theme from ER?

I normally only give website contact details here, but I can't resist Zaptag's mail address: The Old Barrel Store, Brewery Courtyard, Drayman's Lane, Marlow, Bucks SL7 2FF, England.

To read more about Zaptag and order through their website, with free postage to anywhere in the world, click here.

The copyright of the article Portable Patient Records with USB in U.K./Ireland Travel is owned by Mike Gerrard. Permission to republish Portable Patient Records with USB in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.