Tipp of the Week - Notifying next of kin

Hello Tipp City - Marc the Cop here,

I hope you’re all having a great week! As I write this column, I was awoken this morning by tornado sirens! I wasn’t expecting those in February! So, while I’m up, I put on the coffee and got to work on my column.

While traveling across Ohio, I have the pleasure of working with some of Ohio’s finest police officers and trainers. One of my colleagues works for the Columbus Division of Police in their freeway unit. He and I were speaking about the ability to contact your next of kin by registering that information on your driver's license with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This is highly beneficial in the event you are incapacitated in a vehicle crash.

A quick Google search found the Ohio BMV form 2437 on The BMV website www.bmv.ohio.gov. You can also complete this information online or by visiting one of the many deputy registrars' locations.

Having next of kin notification on your driver's license offers several advantages, including enhancing safety and providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Here's a detailed look at the top ten benefits:

1. Emergency Contact Information. In an accident or medical emergency, first responders can quickly access your next of kin's contact details from your driver's license. This facilitates efficient communication with your family or designated emergency contacts, enabling them to be informed promptly about your situation.

2. Timely Notification. Time is of the essence during emergencies. By having next of kin information readily available on your driver's license, authorities can promptly notify your loved ones about any critical incidents, ensuring they are informed and can provide necessary support or make important decisions on your behalf.

3. Peace of Mind. Knowing that your emergency contacts are easily accessible through your driver's license can provide a sense of security and peace of mind for you and your family. It alleviates concerns about delayed notification in case of unforeseen circumstances on the road.

4. Streamlined Communication: During emergencies, communication channels can become overwhelmed. Having next of kin details on your driver's license streamlines the process of contacting your family members, bypassing potential delays or complications that may arise when trying to gather contact information from other sources.

5. Medical Assistance. When you cannot communicate your medical history or specific healthcare needs, your next of kin can provide crucial information to medical personnel. Having their contact information readily available enables healthcare providers to obtain relevant details quickly, potentially impacting the quality and timeliness of their medical care.

6. Support Network Activation. Your next of kin serves as a primary support network during emergencies. By ensuring their contact information is easily accessible on your driver's license, authorities can activate this support network promptly, allowing your loved ones to provide emotional support, make important decisions, or coordinate assistance as needed.

 7. Legal and Administrative Purposes. Next of kin notification on your driver's license can also serve practical purposes beyond emergencies. In the event of incapacitation or fatality, having designated contacts readily available expedites legal and administrative processes, such as notifying family members, arranging for medical care or funeral arrangements, and addressing estate matters.

8. Customization and Privacy. Some jurisdictions allow for customization of next of kin notification preferences on driver's licenses, enabling individuals to specify preferred contacts or indicate additional information relevant to emergency responders. This customization ensures that the notification process aligns with your preferences and respects privacy concerns.

9. Compliance with Regulations. In certain regions, having next of kin notification details on your driver's license may be a regulatory requirement. By adhering to these regulations, you ensure compliance with legal standards and contribute to the overall effectiveness of emergency response systems.

10. Preparation for the Unexpected. While no one anticipates emergencies, having next of kin notification on your driver's license demonstrates proactive preparation for unforeseen events. It reflects a responsible approach to personal safety and ensures that essential contacts are readily available when needed most.

Remember the 9 p.m. routine! This routine is a nightly reminder to residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicle doors, lock the doors to their residences, turn on exterior lights, and activate all alarms and security systems.

That is all for this week! Please be safe, care for one another, and I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)

Do you have a suggestion for the Tipp of the Week? You can email me at Marcthecop@tippgazette.com!

The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author and are not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.