First Aid kit for bike packing

[boxelder]

I thought this might be useful - http://www.eventsafetygroup.co.uk/my-fi ... w-zealand/
Vic is a very experienced medic/paramedic who covers loads of outdoor events, bike events, adventure races and she's off on her jollies on the bike.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Hoping that's a group kit as it seems like a lot for an individual.

Got to love the inclusion of a foil blanket for bikepacking when chances are you'll already be carrying a much better form of shelter and insulation

[voodoo_simon]

and no lollipop either for being a brave girl (or boy if she's treats someone else!).

On a serious note, no savlon?
My kit contains (I think)
-Savlon
-wipes
-plasters
-larger bandage thingy
-those stitch things
-rubber gloves (also handy for mechanicals)

[ianfitz]

Gloves, medium field dressing, couple of plasters, various size steri strips, various meds, duct tape. Doesn't take up much space and will patch up most things.

[Cornish Neil]

I used to work with a former paramedic who spent a lot of time in the Canadian wilderness, she always said no point in carrying a first aid kit as serious injury's cant be dealt with by anything in a standard kit anyway. Her view was that a t-shirt or similar is as good as a bandage for a major bleed, and for a serious injury you aren't getting out of there without help regardless of what is in your kit.

I am a first aider and these are her views not mine before someone has a go at me...

[boxelder]

Ooh, you lot are so hard core..... Maybe Vic is riding for fun and with someone she doesn't want to see suffer because she went minimal. She probably saves weight by not carrying tools or spares (as these can be shared with companions. Highlight good practice then up to the individual to decide what to skimp on.

[whitestone]

I think it's more that as a paramedic she might be able to use more kit. For most of us, once you get past the basic stuff then it's either hobble out or call 999.

I take very little: a few plasters, blister covers, a couple of antiseptic wipes and some safety pins. I also carry baby wipes which can be used for larger scale cleaning around wounds. A lot of other stuff can be improvised. If I was in remote country then I'd take more but also go on a course to learn how to use it.

[ScotRoutes]

Surgical scissors like she has and a pair of latex gloves. A sanitary towel, duct tape and a roll of vet-wrap (cohesive bandage). Some painkillers.

Every Outdoor First Aid course I've been on has emphasised trying to make use of what equipment you have and what you can scavenge; e.g. a small rucksack can be fashioned into a good padded sling.

Edit: Wound-cleaning is an interesting point. Assuming you are in the UK, and you are out for the day/weekend, there's little point in cleaning a serious wound. You'll want to treat any injury (stop bleeding/cover) and get help. On a longer trip in more remote terrain then it becomes more necessary to prevent infection. Of course, if it's just a minor injury (small cut) and it's not stopping your multi-day ride then cleaning it at some point would be useful but might wait until you pass a handy chemist/supermarket

[HaYWiRe]

I never go anywhere without my boo boo kit, its a bit hopeful to call it first aid but I consider it essential.

Main concern is would cleaning and protection, anything more serious I'm not trained for.
I'm very prone to infection, had a paper cut turn gangrenous and after my father nearly losing an arm to tetanus ive taken it more seriously.
Plus getting blood stains out of clothes is tough, even if its not life or death there's no point looking like it covered in blood and cuts!

Though as much as I carry, it still takes up less space than your average blokes billfold sitting in your back pocket.
That, and its pretty minimal in comparison to my diabetic supplies I have to carry 24/7, try counting grams when you literally need insulin pens to live

[boxelder]

Out of interest, how many of you/us have outdoor First Aid quals?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Out of interest, how many of you/us have outdoor First Aid quals?

Nods.

[ianfitz]

Out of interest, how many of you/us have outdoor First Aid quals?

Yes and am a nurse too in real life.

[TheBrownDog]

Out of interest, how many of you/us have outdoor First Aid quals?

Waves. Need to get it refreshed as well.

[ScotRoutes]

Out of interest, how many of you/us have outdoor First Aid quals?

Me. Just renewed earlier this year again.

[fatbikephil]

I did a British Asoc of Ski patrollers First aid course a few years ago which is expensive (my work was paying) but good for the kind of injuries we are likely to get. I carry triangular bandages, a few dressings and tape on the basis that you only need to patch people / yourself up enough to get them to civilisation (or wait on the MRT)

[NorwayCalling]

Only 4 things in my pack

3 10 cm x 10 cm wound dressing pads¨
vet-wrap
pain killers - lethal strength
and something that nobody has mentioned:


Savlon dry spray is worth its weight as burns out the nasties ans stops the sheep poo from getting deep into a wound. There are an increasing number of nasties that need to be hit hard before they get into your system (drug resistant infections anyone?) so spray, cover, wrap and continue. Its not cancer thats going to kill off the current youngsters in old age, its a cut finger whilst gardening....

Looking at the mechanism for "most" cycling injuries and a basic first aid kit is not going to help. Just clean, kill and cover until you can sort it out.

[Mariner]

Its not cancer thats going to kill off the current youngsters in old age, its a cut finger whilst gardening....

Do they still give tetanus injections and if so have we all got our boosters?

[HaYWiRe]

Only 4 things in my pack

. Just clean, kill and cover until you can sort it out.

This is the basis for all my kits

Its not cancer thats going to kill off the current youngsters in old age, its a cut finger whilst gardening....

Do they still give tetanus injections and if so have we all got our boosters?

Yup, still give them by me, dad needed one from a tiny scratch working on the car, nearly lost his arm! Stubborn sod!
Ive had my booster a couple years back after diagnosis

[Sarah]

Just done my Outdoor First Aid course for work, Forest School teacher, it was run by local mountain rescue guys and very practical.

I carry a bandage, pads, duct tape, baby wipes, gloves, maybe a space blanket if not got bivi stuff, and pain killers. Oh and head torch n sweeties. I agree, we are usually carrying enough to deal with most things anyway.

[sean_iow]

Only 4 things in my pack

3 10 cm x 10 cm wound dressing pads¨
vet-wrap
pain killers - lethal strength
and something that nobody has mentioned:


Savlon dry spray is worth its weight as burns out the nasties ans stops the sheep poo from getting deep into a wound. There are an increasing number of nasties that need to be hit hard before they get into your system (drug resistant infections anyone?) so spray, cover, wrap and continue. Its not cancer thats going to kill off the current youngsters in old age, its a cut finger whilst gardening....

Looking at the mechanism for "most" cycling injuries and a basic first aid kit is not going to help. Just clean, kill and cover until you can sort it out.

I had a small off last week, no major injury but did cut my knee in several places. The blood was coming out through my leg warmer but I wasn't far from home so cleaned it up there. It got me thinking I should carry some antiseptic spray for when I'm further from home and need to prevent infection.

As the last first aid training I had was in the scouts over 30 years ago I've got a question for those of you with more up to date knowledge. When riding my water bottle usually has either carbohydrate mix or electrolyte in it so if I get a wound with dirt etc. in it should I just spray over the top with the antisepic or is it ok to use my drink to wash it out? I didn't know if the drink mix might promote infection with the sugar etc. in it? Or I might just be over thinking it as carbohydrate drink is probably a lot better for wounds than sheep poo?

Sean

[Matt]

I carry a small tub of Sudocreme.

As well as antiseptic, can bung up cuts as well as be used for rubs, sores etc.

Just seems a bit more versatile than a spray

[Bearbonesnorm]

Urine is sterile ... and generally readily available.

[sean_iow]

Is that to wash my wound with or to have in my drinks bottle? As I usually ride on my own I'd better limit injuries to paces I can aim at? Joking aside, that's actually not a bad suggestion, I'll remember that.

I also seem to be having difficulties finding any antiseptic spray in the shops locally and an on-line search seems to suggest the savlon one is discontinued. Any suggestions for an alternative?

[NorwayCalling]

I carry a small tub of Sudocreme.

As well as antiseptic, can bung up cuts as well as be used for rubs, sores etc.

Just seems a bit more versatile than a spray

The problem with sudocrem is its very mild for today's conditions - a formula unchanged since the 1930's and contains pesticides- just Wikipedia it. The active ingredient is cetrimide which I quot: US Department of Health and Human Services strongly discourage the use of this type of antiseptics on open wounds (as it can actively discourage wound healing). Also being a cream, you have to use a finger to apply it and as such you can introduce bacteria from your fingers to the wound.

Povidone iodine (the Savlon spray) has been quote: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for short-term treatment of superficial and acute wounds. The statement includes that povidone iodine has not been found to either promote or inhibit wound healing. Also being non touch, you cant make things worse by introducing something from an unclean finger.

Either way, bacteria and nastie's will cause even more damage to you and delay healing so which ever one you go for, its better than nothing. The advantages of antiseptics on wounds may outweigh possible disadvantages so remember kids: hit it fast and hard!

[RIP]

Well NC you're pretty sold on the Povidone Iodine spray idea I can tell so I might give it a go. Reading up about it, obviously no good for anyone allergic to iodine, and not recommended for large open wounds - although if you had one of those you presumably wouldn't want to "spray and carry on riding"?

Nipped into our various chemists and only one (B*s - other chemists are available..) had it - in 100ml size which is way OTT for BP weight weenies. It also goes out of date. 50ml has been available but now "unavailable" everywhere on tinternet.

So how about buying one of these 250ml jobs (for horses so that's good if you're a horsepacker as well ):
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Gold_Label_Iod ... 7Qod0DoI_w

Then decant some into a sterilised one of:
these 15ml : https://www.amazon.co.uk/SODIAL-Empty-C ... 4KPNYMF8DF
or these 20ml: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Deodorants-B ... A179YKVS17

?

"Reg"

PS> My "first aid kit" is same as most others above: slap-it-on wound dressings, tape, sterile wipes, sterile water tubes, gloves. Plus paracetamols, antacids, sorethroat tabs - don't like annoying tums/throats/heads - and co-codamols.