JimboJames1972
Active Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK
Hi all,
I am relatively new to "serious" cycling. I have, however, been involved in different outdoor activities (a Duke of Edinburgh expedition leader, ski/mountain guide etc) for many years. For these sort of activities I always, always carry some sort of first aid kit. What I carry varies with the exact activity, where my group is going and what I see to be the potential risks, but there is always my little red bag at the bottom of my rucksack.
However, in the few months I have been back in my bike I must admit that I have not really carried anything. Also, when out with a couple of different local club rides I have not been aware of anyone in the group having anything with them either. That said though, these are both pretty relaxed clubs, matched by some pretty relaxed rides from the group too. I understand that things are different on more serious, longer events.
What triggered this post though was an incident last week. The group I was cycling with came across another cyclist (not from our club) who had come off her bike. It seems as if she had tapped the rear wheel of her friend who was cycling in front of her and had gone over the handlebars. She was on a hybrid-type bike and had caught the end of the handlebars in her belly as she went over. She was complaining of serious abdominal pain and, for the hour (!) we had to wait for an ambulance, she deteriorated rapidly - her pulse was all over the place, she was in shock and she stopped breathing twice. Luckily, I am a first aider and had a lot of help from an off duty nurse who arrived on the scene and we did what we could.
Thankfully, the ambulance finally arrived and we have since heard that after emergency surgery for internal bleeding and a ruptured gut/spleen she is on the road to recovery.
Now, I realise that such incidents are mercifully rare, but how well are we prepared when we hit the roads (no pun intended)? Since last week I am now taking a few essentials - just a few bits to cope with road rash and cuts. What do others take?
J
I am relatively new to "serious" cycling. I have, however, been involved in different outdoor activities (a Duke of Edinburgh expedition leader, ski/mountain guide etc) for many years. For these sort of activities I always, always carry some sort of first aid kit. What I carry varies with the exact activity, where my group is going and what I see to be the potential risks, but there is always my little red bag at the bottom of my rucksack.
However, in the few months I have been back in my bike I must admit that I have not really carried anything. Also, when out with a couple of different local club rides I have not been aware of anyone in the group having anything with them either. That said though, these are both pretty relaxed clubs, matched by some pretty relaxed rides from the group too. I understand that things are different on more serious, longer events.
What triggered this post though was an incident last week. The group I was cycling with came across another cyclist (not from our club) who had come off her bike. It seems as if she had tapped the rear wheel of her friend who was cycling in front of her and had gone over the handlebars. She was on a hybrid-type bike and had caught the end of the handlebars in her belly as she went over. She was complaining of serious abdominal pain and, for the hour (!) we had to wait for an ambulance, she deteriorated rapidly - her pulse was all over the place, she was in shock and she stopped breathing twice. Luckily, I am a first aider and had a lot of help from an off duty nurse who arrived on the scene and we did what we could.
Thankfully, the ambulance finally arrived and we have since heard that after emergency surgery for internal bleeding and a ruptured gut/spleen she is on the road to recovery.
Now, I realise that such incidents are mercifully rare, but how well are we prepared when we hit the roads (no pun intended)? Since last week I am now taking a few essentials - just a few bits to cope with road rash and cuts. What do others take?
J
