First Aid on the Trail. How do we plan for that?

Stihldog

Stihldog

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I always carry a simple First Aid kit in my backpacks (3). We can’t be expected to carry everything but I do the best I can. Most First Aid packages are fairly lightweight …but they can get bulky.

There are some injuries that should be left to the pros…but there are other injuries that we can tend too. Either on ourselves or a fellow biker/hiker asap.
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Most of us likely have the basics of first aid and that’s usually all we need. Some of us have an industrial level of first aid. (Because of our jobs). Importantly is to stay calm, or appear calm in the event of an accident. Don’t panic. Sh*t can happen out there when we least expect it. Some level of planning is always good. 👍🏻

Yesterday I met another solo rider on the trail who needed attention. Likely a broken finger and he was leaking blood from his hand. Sat him down, stopped the bleeding, splinted his finger and gave him some advice. I followed up after he went to emerg for X-rays.

I discussed this meeting with Mrs Stihldog later , who is a nurse, and we debriefed the event. She suggested that the other “good” fingers could be used as a splint, or support, for the broken finger. She said a special type of wrap-like tape could be used instead.

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A roll of that 3M medical tape. Not sticky, reusable, easily tears to length, stays in place can hold compression bandages or gauze in place and applies some adjustable pressure. I’m adding that to my kit.

Our hobby can sometimes bring us, or others, a world of hurt. (Ask me how I know 🙄), but it’s nice to have those tools, or some knowledge, in treating the unsuspecting ouchies.
 
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Yes , carry the same nearly , some 3m med tape , medical non alc wipes , plasters , bandage roll and some butterfly closures and some ibuprofen , all in a ziplock in the space in my battery compartment in the down tube,
Used the wipes and butterflies yesterday on an off :( and the ibuprofen) !
 
mooby77 said:
Yes , carry the same nearly , some 3m med tape , medical non alc wipes , plasters , bandage roll and some butterfly closures and some ibuprofen , all in a ziplock in the space in my battery compartment in the down tube,
Used the wipes and butterflies yesterday on an off :( and the ibuprofen) !
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That 3M med-tape is some amazing stuff. I carry a few ibuprofen, or Alieve, also and some alcohol wipes. Ziplock bags help keep things dry.

I used a few butterfly bandages on my buddy after he had a little chin-music. We continued on our ride after that.
 
My first aid kit is the stuff that I carry anyway.
ie
Two meters of duct tape wrapped around my mini-pump. (There are a thousand uses for duct tape...).
Half a dozen pieces of paper kitchen towel. (Hand wipes, bandages, specs, snot and arse wipe....).
Folding scissors and a knife (Part of my multi-tool kit).
Pliers. (Again, part of my tool kit).
Two Inner tubes. (Slings, tourniquet, ....)

Used in combination you can do a lot. I have used most of this on me, or had others use them on me for first aid. Only cuts so far, but I could fashion a splint well enough.
 
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I don’t carry a tube but another biker used one on me to hold my arm/shoulder/ clavicle in place.…after he pulled me from the creak.

The Doc’s were impressed by this sling. I still have the tube …but it’s a 27.5”. Oh well. 😉
 
Sam splints are a good option they take up little space in a bag, foil blankets and sometimes a rab 2 person bivi shelter. These usually depend on what terrain I'm out in.
 
steve_sordy said:
My first aid kit is the stuff that I carry anyway.
ie
Two meters of duct tape wrapped around my mini-pump. (There are a thousand uses for duct tape...).
Half a dozen pieces of paper kitchen towel. (Hand wipes, bandages, specs, snot and arse wipe....).
Folding scissors and a knife (Part of my multi-tool kit).
Pliers. (Again, part of my tool kit).
Two Inner tubes. (Slings, tourniquet, ....)

Used in combination you can do a lot. I have used most of this on me, or had others use them on me for first aid. Only cuts so far, but I could fashion a split well enough.
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I suppose being in the logging industry most of my life I may have a slightly different view when it comes to First Aid. Three different levels were offered to us when our certifications expired. St.Johns first aid(basic). Survival First Aid(required for some jobs) and Occupational or Industrial First Aid. (Ambulance attendant level ).

As a Faller, responsible for the crew in my area, I had to have Industrial First Aid. I had to re-certify every two years. A 2 or 6 week course and independent testing. I got paid for that …only if I passed. After 20+ years it became too stressful and I let my certification expire. I just wanted to fall trees …normal stuff without the stress.

So I guess I find it easy to ride with a First Aid kit. I can apply the methods that I’ve learned to this hobby and the unsuspecting adventure's on the trails.
 
steve_sordy said:
My first aid kit is the stuff that I carry anyway.
ie
Two meters of duct tape wrapped around my mini-pump. (There are a thousand uses for duct tape...).
Half a dozen pieces of paper kitchen towel. (Hand wipes, bandages, specs, snot and arse wipe....).
Folding scissors and a knife (Part of my multi-tool kit).
Pliers. (Again, part of my tool kit).
Two Inner tubes. (Slings, tourniquet, ....)

Used in combination you can do a lot. I have used most of this on me, or had others use them on me for first aid. Only cuts so far, but I could fashion a split well enough.
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Ohhhh Steve! Duct Tape?
Ok, I agree it’s good stuff and can fix just about anything. But I’d rather use Duct Tape on my wheels as rim tape …rather than my hairy arms or legs . 😳😉

A tourniquet can be a little tricky. In a pinch , the sleeve from your jacket and a wooden stick can act as a tourniquet. Can save your life or a limb if applied and used properly. Hopefully we can get some serious medical attention after a tourniquet is used. That “Golden Hour “ is likely important.

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Just watch the first 10 seconds.
 
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Only had to use duct tape on my hands so far.
But as they say "Needs must, when the Devil drives!"
Meaning that if it was going to stop me bleeding to death, I'd use it and worry about the aftermath later. :eek:
 
Hi There. Good to see this being discussed. Most of the stuff that folk are suggesting is great but there is one big miss. A proper wound dressing e.g. Israeli or fancy haemostatic ones. Stopping major bleeds is an absolute priority along with airway management. A tourniquet is easily improvised and you should know how to do it. Google Cedric Gracia to convince yourself.
The 3M med tape referred to is great - It’s called Coban. Vet Wrap is the same stuff and cheaper, easy to find on Amazon.
Fitst aid is really about lifesaving not TLC. Airway management and bleeding control is the ke. Everything else can wait.
My first aid kit is the size of an orange, you don’t need much. I always add a Sol emergency bag as well, it’s even smaller. Poorly people need to stay warm.
I’m a mountain guide and wilderness first aid trainer
 
I carry some aerosol plaster (band aid) for keeping dirt out of cuts and grazes and a first aid kit for bigger stuff. Don’t bother with the tourniquet for riding, only days on the saw.
 
So what are we saying are essential in a first aid kit?
I have these in mine: A selection of plasters, a small bandage, a few cotton wall balls, some antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream a small pack of tissues and a one sided sharp blade. I might add some tweezers thinking about it. All in a zip lock bag, total weight not a lot, maybe 100gram? I think that covers most things that are self fixable. Oh and I'll also throw some paracetamol and antihistamines in.
 
Amber Valley Guy said:
So what are we saying are essential in a first aid kit?
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ABC. Airway, Breathing, Circulation. But those can’t always fit in your kit…they can store just under your lid, between your ears, and they stay there for the rest of your life.

A little bit of knowledge can go a long way. And if you have to …CPR.

Most of our injuries will be minor (small cut, scrapes, bruises …maybe a broken finger or tooth. It’s when excessive bleeding is present …that needs to stop. With some knowledge we can make use of almost anything around us or on us. Even duct tape😉, clothing, a stick, trousers belt, shoelaces, socks …almost anything.
A basic first kit that has a compression bandage. Yup…about the size of an orange.
I also carry a cell phone, a whistle, and a multi-tool.
 
Amber Valley Guy said:
So what are we saying are essential in a first aid kit?
I have these in mine: A selection of plasters, a small bandage, a few cotton wall balls, some antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream a small pack of tissues and a one sided sharp blade. I might add some tweezers thinking about it. All in a zip lock bag, total weight not a lot, maybe 100gram? I think that covers most things that are self fixable. Oh and I'll also throw some paracetamol and antihistamines in.
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Pensioners have a defibrillator , that's why we go slower.
 
Stihldog said:
ABC. Airway, Breathing, Circulation. But those can’t always fit in your kit…they can store just under your lid, between your ears, and they stay there for the rest of your life.

A little bit of knowledge can go a long way. And if you have to …CPR.

Most of our injuries will be minor (small cut, scrapes, bruises …maybe a broken finger or tooth. It’s when excessive bleeding is present …that needs to stop. With some knowledge we can make use of almost anything around us or on us. Even duct tape😉, clothing, a stick, trousers belt, shoelaces, socks …almost anything.
A basic first kit that has a compression bandage. Yup…about the size of an orange.
I also carry a cell phone, a whistle, and a multi-tool.
Click to expand...
Enough to put you off going out. My two worst crashes I was on my own . I'm very wary now walking down off a hill . Stumble more as I get older .
 
robbydobs said:
The Cedric Garcia crash was brutal!


You'd be lucky to make it back home after that if riding alone. But it's such a rare event, personally, I don't spend much time worrying about it. Probably more likely to to get killed in a car accident driving there. Of course, the risks are cummulative so that doesn't really help...
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Rescue or evacuation measures can be a little different for vehicle crashes. On the trail we are relying on ourselves, a buddy(s) or someone who stumbles upon us for first aid or rescue.

For a serious injury an ambulance or SARS (search and rescue) needs to be called. Packing out a patient on a spine board can take up to 6 people. That’s not easy in a remote area. A rescue by helicopter can be even more difficult or dangerous.

And all this needs to be done within the “Golden Hour “. Our little mountain (Burke Mountain) sees its share of accidents each year. Remote, heavily treed, steep and can be confusing for locations. Thankfully our SARS members train year round. Some are paid. Some are volunteers. They have the resources and train-up their skills. That’s kinda reassuring.
But I only need to carry a first aid kit about the size of an orange.
 
I'd be well embarrassed if I had to call SAR out... being on a team 😂

Mine and most first responders take on it is do the basics well and always try and tell people where you are going and what time you will likely be back.
 
Stihldog said:
Rescue or evacuation measures can be a little different for vehicle crashes. On the trail we are relying on ourselves, a buddy(s) or someone who stumbles upon us for first aid or rescue.

For a serious injury an ambulance or SARS (search and rescue) needs to be called. Packing out a patient on a spine board can take up to 6 people. That’s not easy in a remote area. A rescue by helicopter can be even more difficult or dangerous.

And all this needs to be done within the “Golden Hour “. Our little mountain (Burke Mountain) sees its share of accidents each year. Remote, heavily treed, steep and can be confusing for locations. Thankfully our SARS members train year round. Some are paid. Some are volunteers. They have the resources and train-up their skills. That’s kinda reassuring.
But I only need to carry a first aid kit about the size of an orange.
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I've got a few old colleagues who work for POCO sar they're a good bunch. 😉
 
A friend recently had more than a scare. A Stroke from a dislodged blood clot in the middle of a major forest. His saving grace was his two cycling buddies used good first aid responses, used their mobile phone to text ( no speech reception, do be aware that the later gen IPhones will text via satellite ) a ”three word “ Co-ordinate to one of their wives who contacted 999. A random nearby ambulance crew arrived to locked gates, a nearby house owner used an angle grinder to cut the lock and their quad bike to ferry crew and medication to the exact location, all within 25 minutes of the initial call.

A whole lot of coincidences aligned and with less than 12% chance of survival, those basics meant 8 weeks later he is back racing his beach cat. His doctors couldn’t say why he had had a blood clot. Do look up the 3 Word App or at least have some location App on hand.
 
Waynemarlow said:
A friend recently had more than a scare. A Stroke from a dislodged blood clot in the middle of a major forest. His saving grace was his two cycling buddies used good first aid responses, used their mobile phone to text ( no speech reception, do be aware that the later gen IPhones will text via satellite ) a ”three word “ Co-ordinate to one of their wives who contacted 999. A random nearby ambulance crew arrived to locked gates, a nearby house owner used an angle grinder to cut the lock and their quad bike to ferry crew and medication to the exact location, all within 25 minutes of the initial call.

A whole lot of coincidences aligned and with less than 12% chance of survival, those basics meant 8 weeks later he is back racing his beach cat. His doctors couldn’t say why he had had a blood clot. Do look up the 3 Word App or at least have some location App on hand.
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Could so easily have reversed everything that worked as not working. The amount of places I go on my own on bike, sea kayak and hill walking where there is no signal at all is scary. Will it stop me I doubt it .
 
Waynemarlow said:
Do look up the 3 Word App or at least have some location App on hand.
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What3words is fantastic and is much easier to 'share' than GPS coordinates or map reference. You can also 'find' a location in what3words then handover to Waze / other to navigate to it - brill when your friends say 'meet at ///obstinate.estimate.fury', you know you're going to the same place. Just be wary of plurals in names !
 
I would recommend a few other items:

- Surgical glue and clotting agent
- Benadryl liquid gel caps (in case someone has an allergic reaction to a sting or plant)
 
Maxi said:
What3words is fantastic and is much easier to 'share' than GPS coordinates or map reference. You can also 'find' a location in what3words then handover to Waze / other to navigate to it - brill when your friends say 'meet at ///obstinate.estimate.fury', you know you're going to the same place. Just be wary of plurals in names !
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What3Words is basically useless if you're on the move. It's useless in general, but even moreso if you're backcountry and moving.
 
RickBullotta said:
What3Words is basically useless if you're on the move. It's useless in general, but even moreso if you're backcountry and moving.
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I just D/L 3words and tried it. Doesn’t seem to play well with my other map-apps. Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Seems to be a EU thing or a parcel delivery app.

I mostly use Strava and Find My Friends. I think I have about 8 different types of maps on my phone …but I rarely use them. Mostly to find hidden trails.
RickBullotta said:
I would recommend a few other items:

- Surgical glue and clotting agent
- Benadryl liquid gel caps (in case someone has an allergic reaction to a sting or plant)
Click to expand...
Yeah, there’s a few little and simple things that you could add. Any of those would have come in handy for me a few times.
 
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