First Aid Kits

[Veronica]

We used to carry a first aid kit when we biked. I don't know why we stopped. After Thom's mishap, we decided to put one together again.

So if you have one, what's in yours?

V.

[Irulan]

I keep mine in a zip lock.

a small roll of tape, gauze squares ( 4x4 & 2x2) , sample packs of antibiotic. A couple of bandaids, a set of gloves, sample packs of advil, antiseptic wipes, TP.

The first aid tape came in really handy last night when I busted off my cateye mount.

[Technotart]

the rubber gloves - absolutely! I always end up helping someone who is bleeding, so they are good for that. They are also good for keeping dirt off your hands while you change a flat

[SadieKate]

I started with one of the little Atwater Carey 1st Aid pouches. I like the red color so anyone can find it in my pack (particularly important if I am the unconscious one ).

Roll of gauze
Rubber gloves
tweezers
Vitamin I
1/2" tape
Antiseptic wipes
Alcohol wipes
Safety pins (there should be a bandana in my pack always)
Sting relief pad
Povodine-Iodine oitment
Antibiotic oitment (now down one )
Gauze pads in a variety of sizes(down one also)
Cotton tipped applicators
moleskin
Benzoin tincture swab stick
Bandaids in all shapes and sizes
Contact lens rewetting drops
Chamois Butt'r

Somehow all this gets jammed into that little bag.

Bottom of my pack gets the duct tape, a space blanket and a roll of Coban

On my road bike, I carry only the contact lens drops, Vitamin I and Chamois Butt'r.

[MomOnBike]

I just bought a smallish commercial kit at Scheels. It seems complete enough. Tape, various potions and pills, some covering wounds type stuff in various sizes, even (I just checked) gloves - and an instruction sheet. As I recall, it wasn't terribly expensive, either. It even keeps my rule of not hauling anything I don't know how to use. Good stuff.

[Irulan]

the most important ingredient of any first aid kit is the knowledge of what to do in the event of a first aid emergecncy. All the bandaids in the world do not make up for training.

irulan

[massbikebabe]

I carry a fanny pack with pretty much the same stuff as Sadie, but I also carry a suture set in case anybody gets a deep cut and I have an inflatable splint should something get the look of broke. The fanny pack gets to be a drag around my waist but when I get sick of it my DH takes it for a short time!

karen

[spazzdog]

I have an REI kit that I added some stuff to (pain meds, antibiotics). It's generally in my gear bag in my jeep... no where to put it on the bike. I may improvise something though.

[Adventure Girl]

the most important ingredient of any first aid kit is the knowledge of what to do in the event of a first aid emergecncy. All the bandaids in the world do not make up for training.

Great point!!! I took the Red Cross basic first aid / CPR course. I hope I never have to use it, but I feel better having taken the class.

[Adventure Girl]

Here's another tip that's slightly on point for this thread. I keep a few of those chemical ice packs in my bike bag in the trunk of my car. I don't want to carry them on my bike, but they're sometimes nice to have when you finish your ride. Getting ice on an injury quickly can really help.

[bounceswoosh]

It even keeps my rule of not hauling anything I don't know how to use. Good stuff.

Wow! That's about the opposite of my philosophy. I carry tons of tools and figure that *someone* will know how to use them. So far that's held true, and I've been able to help many riders out of nasty jams just by having the right tools along.

[snapdragen]

I've only got vitamin I and sunscreen in my seat bag. The Suby has a nicely stocked first aid kit, including space blanket. The big band-aids came in handy when I was attacked by the defective Shebeest chamois.

[MomOnBike]

bounceswoosh sez:

I carry tons of tools and figure that *someone* will know how to use them.

Ah, that's the difference. I ride alone a lot. Very often there is no *someone* but me. On organized rides, having a complete kit could make a difference.

I took a CPR course when I worked for heart docs (office rule - all employees were to know CPR). What I learned was that you don't want me working on you, or anyone you care about. I kept "killing" my "patients". It's much better if I keep out of the way and get the paperwork together.

[MightyMitre]

Wow - you're all very organised. I never take anything first aidy when I go out. Admittedly I don't ride on my own all that often, but even when I do I don't take anything. Neither do my riding friends ( as far as I know).

The only thing I always take with me that might just sneek in under 'first aid' is plain water, even if I've got energy drink as I figure it could come in handy for squirty grazes, rinsing eyes, that kind of thing.

Not very well prepared I s'pose but then I mostly road ride, and England is so little. I live in the south which is very densly populated and it's pretty much impossible to ride anywhere deserted. There's always a passer by or a house near by - even on the quieter lanes.

[bounceswoosh]

Ah, that's the difference. I ride alone a lot. Very often there is no *someone* but me. On organized rides, having a complete kit could make a difference.

Well, I mountain bike (no road bike as yet), and when I ride alone, I choose popular trails. That way, if something happens, I have a good chance of getting help.