First Aid

[Mr Haematocrit]

After witnessing my first big cycle crash recently followed by everyone standing round bleeding. I have started carrying a Lifesystems pocket first aid which fits in my jersey pocket when out in group rides. This contains

• tweezers
• Scissors
• Safety Pins
• Open woven bandage
• Crepe bandage
• Savlon antiseptic cream
• Gauze swabs
• Micropore tape
• Cleaning wipe
• Dressing
• Plasters
• Elastoplast spray plaster.

Does anyone else carry first aid and if so what do you carry?

 

[youngoldbloke]

Looks good, esp for group rides, but I wouldn't want to be carrying scissors, tweezers and safety pins in a jersey pocket in view of the damage they could do to you in the event of an 'off'. I carry assorted 'sticky plasters', and cleaning wipe in the saddle pack. I may get a larger pack to accommodate one of these.

 

[DRHysted]

Even though I am a first aider, I carry nothing. But I expect most of the stuff we carry (inner tubes, multi tools, water) could be adapted for most situations. To be honest if you need more than that, you'd probably need an ambulance, the point that was made repeatedly was that they carry the good drugs.

 

[summerdays]

I usually have an absolute minimum of wipes, plasters and micropore tape, but it depends what I'm doing, more likely to be a first aid kit which is carried in my panniers. Problem is I have several different kits and trying to keep each one stocked is a pain - went into the household first aid kit yesterday and discovered there wasn't a single plaster left!!

 

[Sandra6]

Blimey, something else I need to worry about not having
I might start sticking a couple of plasters and some wipes in my bag, anything more serious than that and I'll be calling for help.
Just as an fyi, lady's sanitary towels -the always type - are a good addition to a first aid kit, they absorb bleeding and don't stick to the healing area.

 

[ianrauk]

If there's going to be blood. Then a pair of latex gloves.
Also good for mucky bike fettling on the go..

 

[Piemaster]

Couple of wipes (single wrapped things - like sugar packets)
Spray on plaster.
That hopefully takes care of any fall off the bike scrapes.
For anything more - mobile phone.

 

[cyberknight]

Even though I am a first aider, I carry nothing. But I expect most of the stuff we carry (inner tubes, multi tools, water) could be adapted for most situations. To be honest if you need more than that, you'd probably need an ambulance, the point that was made repeatedly was that they carry the good drugs.

+1
I am a emergency first aider at work and the course always pointed out that your job is to recognise symptoms , deal with the most pressing injuries and call the ambulance and many items can be turned into bandages etc .The hospital will be more grateful that the bleeding was stopped, not if your cloth was a bit mucky as they can deal with that .

 

[Crankarm]

If there's going to be blood. Then a pair of latex gloves.
Also good for mucky bike fettling on the go..

I carry Latex gloves or fuel station gloves in case my bike has a puncture as I don't like getting oily cruddy hands which happens however careful you are if removing a bike wheel.

I carry a small first aid kit in my panniers.

 

[Andy_R]

As a first aider I carry gloves, plasters, wipes, stetchy bandage, safety pins and a fully charged and in credit mobile phone. Anything I can't sort with plasters/wipes/bandage needs professional help. Oh, and handwash gel.

 

[I like Skol]

When I did my recent Manchester to Blackpool and back Bike Events ride (136 miles ) I did actually consider first aid for the first time.I packed a small pack of tissues, a small pack of handy wipes and a few assorted size sections of cutable plaster strip. This was more for other people I might encounter along the way than for myself. I have since returned to carrying nothing even when out with the kids. If it is more serious than a graze that can be ignored (we're really ard!) then I guess it would be time for outside assistance as a plaster isn't going to help?

 

[fossyant]

Couple of cable ties - you can fix anything with them .

Nothing - quite experienced in riding all the way back home bleeding, with my raw backside on view to all following !

 

[The Brewer]

Another first aider. I bought a little pack that fits into my saddle bag last time I did a refresher, poundshops also sell them

 

[PpPete]

couple of sealed 5 x 5 cm wound dressings (1 adhesive / 1 not)
smallest size crepe bandage
small assortment of fabric Elastoplast
ibuprofen
anti-squits tabs (forget the technical name)
+
In my bike repairs kit there is a roll of electrical insulating tape which can be torn with the fingers and stand in for a roll of regular Elastoplast to stick the ends of the crepe banadage down. So I don't need scissors or safety pins any more.

I've used the wound dressings and crepe bandage on a couple of occasions, once on myself, once for another rider - both times preceding a trip to A&E

 

[lulubel]

Latex gloves, a bit of kitchen roll (usually used to wipe sweat out of my eyes, but could probably be put to other cleaning up uses), steroid tablets because I react (in a fairly minor way) to wasp stings. I suppose an inner tube could be used to stem the flow of blood from an artery, but I don't usually bother about less major bleeding - if it bleeds for a bit, the bruising is generally less severe. I don't bother with painkillers. If it was pain that I couldn't cope with, anything you can buy over the counter wouldn't touch it.

If I was touring, particularly in out of the way places, I'd carry a full first aid kit, but I'm usually never far from help.