So I got to be a good Samaritan today.

[tzvia]

Was on dirt Mulholland today, coming up from Canoga to where a branch trail goes into the Santa Monica mountains and goes all the way to the Pacific, when I saw another rider coming up from that branch. He was very dirty- back covered in dust and appeared to be in pain. He asked if I had bandages and replied I had some. He was shaking and clenching his fist as he got off the bike. I thought, oh man this is not good. As he sat down he mumbled that he thought it was broken. I just rummaged through my camelback and pulled out my crash kit. Pulled out some large bandaids, but he was asking for bandages. I gave him my kit- and as he looked in it another rider came by and stopped to help. I had no idea where he was injured at that point, but as we spoke to him he said his leg and began to pull down his sock. Compound fracture just above the ankle. It looked like his pedal had implanted itself in his leg. It was wide open with visible tendons and bone bits- he had me open my emergency tampons and we got them into the hole. The other cyclist then got one of my big bandaids over it and then we got the whole thing covered with the plastic bag that had held my supplies, to try and keep dirt out.

He was in pain but insisted on riding down to Kaiser- we wanted to call 911 but he stopped us. The other cyclist went with him back down the trail to his car which was closer than mine.

I finished my ride, the whole time thinking about that guy and the pain he was in. I'm gonna add a roll of bandage to my kit. Every time I think I will pare down my pack to save weight, I am reminded why I carry all that stuff.

[OakLeaf]

Oh lord. Good job.

I would've passed right out.

[Zen]

Good job indeed.
I have two maxi-pads in my first aid kit.
The plastic bag is a good idea.

[jessmarimba]

Wow. I'm thoroughly impressed by both of you. I wrecked once and cracked a rib and couldn't even ride out...walked the bike the whole way back. And ugh ugh ugh I cringed just reading your description of his injury. But this is one more reminder that I need a decent first aid kit in my bag.

[Trek420]

Wow. Just wow. You probably saved a life

[tzvia]

I had bought a little Johnson & Johnson kit that comes in a 4" square box. Bandaids, gauze pads, alcohol wipes. To it I put in some tampons, asprin (for stroke/heart attack), advil (pain), a few more wipes and 3 4"x2" giant band-aids. I then put the whole thing in a plastic bag with a few folded up paper towels. I will now add a roll of gauze bandage- I can use band-aids to hold it on a wound. I had found that little kit at the .99c store and bought 4 of them.

I wanted to pass out or chuck breakfast, but watching that poor guy shake in pain snapped me out of it.

[Aggie_Ama]

Good job! I can totally handle anyone BUT ME bleeding not sure though on that bad of an injury. I would be more freaked out that he was in shock or something when he was arguing to continue. I wouldn't have wanted to let him leave! And that has to be a pretty new use for tampons, I am not sure I would have thought of that but I do carry a couple of emergency ones in my camelbak.