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Carrying First Aid Kits
Today I competed in the Convict 100 at St Albans. About 21km into the race on the first section of water bars where people stack every year there was a rider down with 3 other guys frantically waving me down. Naturally I stopped to find he had banged his head and had opened it up. The panic was due to none of them having any first aid kits on them.
I used my kit and then went for help. Lucky for him he had a nasty gash but didn't appear to have concussion or any major damage so I went for help and he was transported out of there.
At the end of the race I was telling my friends and expressed my surprise none of them carried first aid kits despite it being a requirement of events and just a common sense thing to do. Turns out my friends don't carry them...
Maybe I just see risk more than most due to the number of stacks I've had that have ended up in hospital trips and once a snake bite.
Am I an outlier in my belief you shouldn't ride your bike without a first aid kit on you in the same way you must wear a helmet?
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You should always carry some kind of kit. I can't believe people don't.
Even if it's something as simple as a compression bandage and some kind of dressing that could be put over a wound to stop bleeding that would help in snake bite/nasty cut situations. It weighs practically nothing so why not?
Helped me out at least once
I ALWAYS carry a bandage roll and one of those big band-aid patch things that covers several square inches (multiply by 6.45 for square centimetres).
It weighs NEXT TO NOTHING and is much better than riding home with a gaping wound streaming blood.
Normally I haven't, and realize that one cannot just bring everything for a short ride, but anything where I'm out deep bush, it's important to make sure someone has something, particularly if alone. I also reckon detailed first aid is crucial to the activities we know and love, and for this reason I'm planning to attend a 4-day meds course mid-year. It could save someone's life. In C100 today I took some basic first aid for that reason, and am glad you were able to help. Should be a lesson for all of us.
not much worse than looking at a gaping hole in your leg, seeing white bone with a vein hanging out.. realising you have nothing to stop the impending flow of claret.. I've always carried a basic bandage since that moment.
First aid kit was a requirement for my first half-marathon. I've had one in the Camelbak ever since.
I don't carry one when I go bareback on short course circuit races. Hmm...
At one stage I was carrying everything for that just in case moment. I had the tools, cable ties, electrical tape, First aid kit, food, etc. It was really heavy and my back would get sore on medium to long rides. After a while, I started doing shorter rides like Mount Annan and Yellomundee with just the water bottle/pump on the frame and Tube/Puncture kit and multi tool in the saddle bag. The Freedom was amazing. I started using the Camelbak less and less until I stopped using it altogether. I recently dug my old Camelbak back out and found the Kitten (now cat) had used it for a toilet and it reeked. Tossed it straight in the bin. I had forgot about my first aid kit and never really thought about it until now. I'm sure I still have it somewhere. Think I'm going to have to look into replacing the Camelbak.
A good reminder for all of us Craig.
Chopstir, I have a small ziplock bag with a bandage roll and a big band-aid which I always put in the right hand pocket of my MTB jersey. on't put it in your middle pocket or else you won't be able to reach it if you dislocate your shoulder.
Being a teacher and e Duke of Edinburgh supervisor we have to renew our CPR skills every year. I also have a Senior First Aid cert due to some remote location expeditions. Its for these reasons I carry a basic first aide kit in my camelpak, sure, gets a bit more sweaty, but whats a bit of sweat when you can maybe help someone one day as Fatboy did, well done! The first aide kit I had helped my friends clean me up after a collision with a tree. Like a spare tube, chain link or anything else in your camelpak, you hope you never have to use them, but when you do, you're glad you did. Id recommend anyone who has a family also do a Senior First Aid course or at least CPR.
I've always carried one. Ever since I used my complete kit on a tourist at manly dam (as I was the only one with a first aid kit), I went and got all my regular ride buddies decent kits (they were already competent first aiders - and I didn't have to pay for the kits either). Mainly because I knew it would be me that they needed to patch up in future...
My second point would be that if you have done the wise thing and carried a kit, perhaps replace the perishable bits from time to time. Imagine that you'd come to the rescue of an ill fated rider only to find that the contents of your first aid kit had turned into moths and powder...
Thumbs up and respect to everyone that rides with a kit.
Until I started adventure racing, when it became a requirement. Now it just lives in the camelbak, barely notice the weight but it's there if I need it. I know plenty of people who don't though. Risk/reward I guess.
I don't but maybe I should
I usually have one in my camelback except I didn't carry one at the Convict on Saturday. This was the first time I'd ridden the course without it and pocket space was limited. It was either food or first aid.
First aid kit - TICK
Got snake bite kit which will double up as serious bandage and some other odds and ends.
There is really NO excuse not to carry some first aid supplies! Oh, 'you don't have room'? 'it's too heavy'? Oh Please! A bandage and a few other bits n pieces weigh next to nothing, and if compressed in a shrink wrap it takes up very little space- they will easily fit into a jersey pocket.
A grade champ, speed-racer-boy or weekend warrior tell me please, is your 1/4 second advantage of not carry a first aid kit worth the suffering of the fallen mtb comrade you could not help if you don't have the gear when it's needed???
Many times I have stopped to help fallen riders, both during a race and just out riding. On most of these occasions I was NOT the first on the scene, but was indeed the first on the scene with anything other than an opinion to offer in regards to first aid!
Some of these crashes have been serious, others less so- but having the means to stop a bleed is VERY important!
Seriously folks-our sport involves riding in areas that are not always easy to access with a vehicle, and help may be some time away in the case of an accident. With the exception of short course XC races everyone should be prepared, and carry some basic first aid supplies.
Selfish not to really!!!
Always carry one and as mention before remember to replace out of date bits. Extreme example but no reason why it couldn't happen (touch wood it doesn't) to any of us or to a fellow rider:
http://youtu.be/-kv1eWZqrls
I really should , in particular a compression bandage for a snake bite I think is the most likely thing to take you out.
What's more important is the knowledge of what to do, and what constitutes a serious injury versus a ride out - eg potential spinal injuries, pneumothorax , heart attacks etc - the only situation I can think of where a first aid kit is potentially life saving is the snake bite, the rest is nice to have, but some training and knowledge can easily save a life or a spinal injury.
Spare tube, 30mL bottle of Vodka, a knife and some cable ties, that's all you need hahaha.
I occasionally have one in the car but I don't think I've ever ridden with one, if I look at the ground the wrong way I break a bone, never really lose any skin so I don't bother.
OK so next time I've no excuse
If Jenny '#pro' Fay can find space, so can I
https://twitter.com/jennyfaymtb/status/462058510...
Those that do carry a kit, what're you putting in it or is there a kit available to buy that's got everything you need?
Standard first aid kit from the chemist just add a compression bandage to it if it doesn't have one already. Make sure there are gloves too to protect yourself from other peoples blood and bodily fluids... Basic rule of first aid is to protect yourself too.
Compression bandage, a dressing, space blanket and industrial strength pain killers is all you need.
Be aware that if you take your own pain killers you may not get 'the good stuff'™ if/when a medic shows up.
I wouldn't be taking pain killer if you crash and need help otherwise you might not get the good stuff when help arrives.
The ones I carry are pretty good®
you beat me to it
There was a car crash out the front of my work a few months back. I made the call to 000 to get the Ambulance out as one bloke was bleeding all over the face and the other driver smashed the windscreen with a headbutt although showed no signs of injury or concussion. I was advised by 000 to make sure no one gave any of accident involved any water or food until the paramedics arrived. From others I have talked to, this is the norm.
...but If I 'm only walking wounded then I'm going to self administer some pain relief to get me out to the car and home or to A&E. I once went over on my ankle fairly badly out at Camden that required Craked and Cromerboy to carry me out then still had an hour drive to get home. Then I took myself off to the hospital. If anyone wants any second hand crutches, let me know
Carry a Surgipack TFK1 first aid kit : http://www.terrywhitechemists.com.au/surgipack-f...
contains:
Triangular Bandage,
Elastic Bandage
roll adhesive tape
Safety pins
Scissors
Mouth to Mouth mask
Tweezers
Soap wipes
Cleansing wipes Latex gloves
Conforming bandage with pad
all in a 12x8x6 cm bag.
Expiry date is printed on the bottom of the bag.
The one time I needed it was for myself, but hadn't put it in the Camelbak as it was 'only' a Heritage trail ride!!
I always carry some basic bandaids and compress bandages.
That Cedrik vid was full on !
I think these are good:
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/medical-kits...
A lot of these pre-packaged or 'bundled' kits are for general injuries. They have lots of crap you don't need, like little patches, swabs and saline to clean wounds.
When injured on the trail, cleaning can wait until later, so don't bother carrying saline, wipes, etc. Don't bother with plasters of any kind - they are usually way too small. Most riders would just ignore any cut or scratch that could be covered by a standard plaster.
The majority of injuries needing attention on the trail will be masses of skin off or big cuts. For this you need some large Telfa 'Ouchless' Pads and a large bandage to keep them in place (along with some tape). Same bandage can be used to treat snake bite if you're that unlucky. I suppose you could carry a triangular bandage to make a sling, but you can improvise a sling from a tube if required.
As many have said, put these few items in a zip-lock bag and leave it in your pack. Double bag it - it's hopefully going to be in there for many years without being needed.
If the wound has dirt in it you can wash it with water from your water bottle which will help reduce infection. Antibiotics aren't as good at reducing infection as you might like to think. If your water is clean enough to drink, its clean enough to wash a wound on the trail. The doctor will give it another clean before he/she stitches it up.
I'm with zoom - especially while a wound is fresh, it hurts less and blood hasn't clotted yet, so dirt washes out far easier. Try cleaning it out 2 hours later ! May as well be interrogated by the Mossad !
Ouchless dressing pads are the best. Also those foil blankets work really well keeping you warm
I had a chainring gouge in my thigh at the Mont. Medics there cleaned it out with a scrubbing brush and some water jet thing that felt like needles. That was fun!
They had a trainee on scene and they offered her a go at my torture, but she refused. Soft!
I have been thinking about this of late - switched to riding without my camelbak and loving it so far, but don't like not having at least basic first aid kit with me.
I reckon a perfectly workable little pack could be made up to fit inside a seat tube, bars, under the stem cap or similar - All it really needs is a few bandages tightly rolled and stuck in a zip-lock bag - throw a little "First aid kit inside" sticker on the tube and forget about it until you need it.. I keep meaning to play around with this idea to see just how much useful gear I can jam into something like that.
There are also lots of "pill bottle first aid kit" ideas around the net, something like that cable-tied or taped to the frame or underside of the saddle could also work.
Don't make it too hard to access, you might have a dislocated collar bone or a broken wrist at the time.
Good point.. I hadn't considered that. I think I'll go the route of small pack (ie pill bottle) stashed somewhere on the bike with a bit of tape
"Don't make it too hard to access, you might have a dislocated collar bone or a broken wrist at the time.
"
Having some personal experience with both occurrences - one thing I didn't need on any occasion was a first aid kit ! What was useful was a mobile phone and an awesome wife who could follow directions and meet me at the nearest road after I hardened the fuck up and walked out with my bike ( after briefly sobbing into my hands)
So the moral is, look after your personal hygiene so you have a significant other who can come and rescue you, and don't use Vodaphone !
And so true.
I couldn't pack an ambulance or helicopter into my pack, but one was provided for me eventually.
There wasn't much in my first aid kit that would help that time (as giantnut and philb can attest to), but I still carry a first aid kit, a phone (Telstra) and a punch of luck that everything goes well, every ride.
Be nice to your fellow riders, they're usually the first on scene if anything goes uber pear shaped.
Pharmaboy+1 - got me thinking back on the accidents and injuries accrued whilst MTBing, only one required anything in a first aid kit, and that was a plaster! Walked/ridden out with snapped ribs, dislocated elbow, torn knee ligaments, concusion and front teeth in my pocket, not much a first aid kit would handle. (putting the elbow back before getting on bike was the most painful!) But we waz tuff in dem days, when men were men and monkeys chewed tabacca, and brains waz in short supply!!. Still carry a kit though
Phone essential (Telstra only), been thinking of a EPIRB for awhile - but a little pricey?
ESSENTIAL DISTRESS BEACON INFORMATION
121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer detected by satellite.
You MUST switch to a 406 MHz distress beacon as soon as possible.
Like you say Heath, can't pack an ambo and helicopter. A first aid kit was about as much good as a chocolate fireguard in your case.
One of the worst injuries I have heard about involved some internal bleeding which eventually lead to days in hospital and part of an organ removal. Nothing much a first aid kit could have done there either.
However - a nice pair of socks can help. Old timers like Flynny will know what I mean
Got this through the post after buying it on ebay last week.
I was spurred on to buy it after the last time I rode at Wylde and a guy right in front of me took a nose dive off the roly feature and cut his face open. I didn't even have anything to clean him up and neither did he or his mate. Luckily the next guy did have a smaal kit with him.
This pack is small, light and contains the following:-
2 Emergency Wallet ID Cards to alert medical and emergency personal of any medical conditions, allergies, medications, emergency contact numbers etc
4 Alcohol Pads/Wipes (5cm x 5cm)
5 Adhesive Bandages/Bandaides (7.2cm x 1.9cm)
1 Adhesive Tape Roll (1.25cm x 5m)
1 pair of Gloves
1 PBT Elastic Bandage (5cm x 4.5m)
1 Gauze Bandage (5cm x 2.5m)
3 Safety Pins
1 pair of Scissors
1 Red First Aid Zippered Bag (12.5cm x 9.5cm)
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=151...
It's also only $10.
There really is no excuse for not carrying basic first aid!
I always take a big hankie and a drink bottle
On long rides I include some uppers and pain killers
I'm never without my phone so I can post injuries immediately to facebook
Sorry double entry
I have a basic kit including triangular bandage.
A few years ago I assisted a young lady who went over the bars with a antiseptic wipe and band aid for her leg. Used the triangular bandage for a guy with a broken collar bone and in the last Dwellingup 100 assisted a guy who went over the bars and stuck a brake lever in his bicep.
Just basic first aid but padded the wound and bandaged then immobilized the arm while we walked him to meet the officials at the direction of the officials after calling the emergency contact number. We checked with the Ambulance personnel when we finished and they said that we had done a good job so that was good to know.
If we all decided to not carry first aid kits the final outcome might be worse for the unfortunate riders that get injured.
Thinking about it now I also had my phone programmed with the emergency Dwellingup 100 contact number and maybe people who cut back on the weight of a small first aid kit also cut back on an emergency phone?
Hopefully the riders that haven't been carrying first aid kits reconsider.
.