First Aid Kit

[mimico_polak]

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I know that our space is limited, but does anyone carry some type (or any) of a First Aid Kit? I don't even have one in my car so I'll use the thread to see what I should be looking for, but it makes sense to have something.

Unfortunately if you're riding solo, not much you can do if you get tossed off and can't tend to yourself, but for those that ride groups do you carry anything outside of a cell phone and 9-1-1?

 

[timtune]

Yes. Car, van bike.
I've added the naloxone they give out but thankfully havn't had a need for it.

 

[mimico_polak]

Yes. Car, van bike.
I've added the naloxone they give out but thankfully havn't had a need for it.

Which kit / materials do you have in them? I had the NALOXONE kits I got at the motorcycle show, but they said not to keep them in the car too long as they'll expire faster due to the weather changes. I need to restock on those.

 

[jc100]

Which kit / materials do you have in them? I had the NALOXONE kits I got at the motorcycle show, but they said not to keep them in the car too long as they'll expire faster due to the weather changes. I need to restock on those.

I have trauma clot packs. They have a limited shelf life though but they can be incredibly useful for large fast bleeding wounds.

 

[GreyGhost]

Which kit / materials do you have in them? I had the NALOXONE kits I got at the motorcycle show, but they said not to keep them in the car too long as they'll expire faster due to the weather changes. I need to restock on those.

Any pharmacy will give you a "free" naloxone kit if you ask. Free to you, government pays about $100 a kit.

In the car I have a half decent set from Costco. Mainly stuff to control bleeding. Ambulance can deal with the rest when they arrive. It also has stuff for burns/bugs/small splints etc but those are mostly for me and not helping others.

On the bike, something like this is good. It's on your body so hopefully it stays with you into the ditch. Tourniquet, chest seals, stuff for major bleeding. Try to stay alive until more competent people get to you.

ASP Ankle Kit - Active Self Protection

Introducing the Active Self Protection Ankle Kit. This kit was built out by John Correia and the rest of the team at Active Self Protection. John is an industry expert on the analysis of gunfights having studied over 30,000 of them. As a dedicated student and sought out instructor John and his...

activeselfprotection.com

If you prefer hanging from your belt instead of your ankle (and it would get less gross than the open ankle kit getting blasted with spray and dirt), here is another version. You don't need to buy these specific kits but imo, they are well thought out and a good reference if you want to build your own.

ASP Belt Trauma Kit - Active Self Protection

You will be re-directed to Mountain Man Medical for purchase. Introducing the Active Self Protection Range Kit. This kit was built out by John Correia and the rest of the team at Active Self Protection. John is an industry expert on the analysis of gunfights having studied over 18,000 of them...

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As a minimalist kit, a tourniquet and trauma dressings in a pocket are a huge step forward from nothing. Sure, you can make a tourniquet but it is hard to do in a ditch and even harder to apply one handed. Practice applying CAT one handed with each hand on arms and legs until you can do it with your eyes closed.

The big kit in the garage is the wrong side of 30 lbs but it is quite comprehensive. It has pretty much everything needed for assessment and stabilization short of drugs and a defibrillator.

 

[jc100]

I have one of those emergency blanket things as well. Pretty sure I have some traffic management lights/road flares in the kit but I’d have to check. It’s a good idea to take a basic first aid course if you can too.

I have those adventure medical kits that come in waterproof pouches. Different sizes for different trips. I just have one of the smallest ones on the bike. Slightly bigger one for travelling. Then just add to it with the trauma clot packs etc. All of that is in a neon pouch at the back of the bike so I can grab it quickly.

 

[Lightcycle]

Last season a guy in our group ran off the road and hit a tree. His leg was crushed between his bike and a tree at 60 km/h and was severed below the knee.

Paramedics arrived in record time but told us he would have bled out if my buddy wasn't carrying a tourniquet. My buddy is a member of the local Search and Rescue and after that incident, we all replicated his kit and carry it on all our rides.

The first aid gear you find at Shoppers Drug Mart is a joke. It's mostly bandaids and gauze. For heavy trauma sustained from motorcycle accidents we added the following:

Cat7 Combat Application Tournquet Gen 7
Israeli bandage for compression
QuickClot hemostasis gauze for large wounds

Do not order these from Amazon. They are cheap and will probably fail in the field.

 

[cycling]

I carry a whistle. It is the International signal for help. 3 whistles.

 

[NuggyBuggy]

Any pharmacy will give you a "free" naloxone kit if you ask. Free to you, government pays about $100 a kit.

Which is a good reason not to carry a kit unless you really need one.

Why would people carry naloxone if they're not travelling with an opioid user? Just in case they run into someone OD'ing?

 

[GreyGhost]

Which is a good reason not to carry a kit unless you really need one.

Why would people carry naloxone if they're not travelling with an opioid user? Just in case they run into someone OD'ing?

A lot of people carry it for exactly that reason. Wander around downtown Barrie (or any other city) and you can probably find someone that could benefit from nalaxone in short order. There is more than two deaths a day in ontario from opiods. I carry a decent first-aid kit and fire extinguisher in case I run into someone that needs it. Naloxone is the same idea.

I am morally conflicted on naloxone. A small percentage of the people that need it made a legitimate mistake and a second chance gives them a long and healthy life. Most of the kits seemed to be used by people that get naloxone multiple times a day. F me. That is just a dumpster fire that never ends. Simcoe paramedics have picked up the same person five times in a day for overdosing. Basically an ambulance dedicated full-time to one person. The chance that person becomes a useful member of society is beyond exceedingly low. At some point, they will be found too late and that cycle will finally stop.

FWIW, I have naloxone at home as kids are dumb and can make mistakes. They are still young but I am actively looking for a lock box to control access to things that can kill them if they make a bad choice. I choose not to carry naloxone outside of my home. Waking up someone from an overdose is an intense experience and they rarely wake up happy or calm. I'm not risking my health and safety in that situation. Others may choose a different path and that's ok too.

 

[sburns]

Generally only carry the kit on longer multi day rides. I think I got it a Crappy Tire.

 

[GreyGhost]

Generally only carry the kit on longer multi day rides. I think I got it a Crappy Tire.

While that makes sense for a larger kit, having the survival kit on you every time you move makes a lot of sense. From what I have seen most cops now are carrying a CAT on their belt or vest at all times. That makes a ton more sense than having to run back the car (which may not be possible). They are about $50 each. I'll buy a bunch more if I can find a deal on them so I can have them left more places. Lots of lower leg injuries on bikes that can be life-threatening in minutes.

As lightcycle said, I haven't touched them but I don't trust the amazon knock-off at four for $32. Maybe they would be ok as training aids though as technically you aren't supposed to re-use the CAT's and practice is very important for fast and effective deployment. If I can't find more real cat's at a price I am willing to pay, I may try these to see if they are better than nothing. I wouldn't trust it to save my life on the bike but to try to help a stranger in the cage, they may work well enough (or be complete garbage and break before they tighten enough but only one way to determine that).

 

[NuggyBuggy]

I choose not to carry naloxone outside of my home. Waking up someone from an overdose is an intense experience and they rarely wake up happy or calm. I'm not risking my health and safety in that situation. Others may choose a different path and that's ok too.

Thanks @GreyGhost for the reply. I also wouldn't carry naloxone outside the house and certainly not on my bike. I live in downtown Toronto, am very familiar with neighbourhoods where you might expect a lot users, and I'm sorry but I'm not going near someone OD'ing. I'm not risking getting their bodily fluids on me, I'm not risking getting poked by a needle, and I'm not risking getting hurt by the person or any bystanders. I'll call 911 once I am in a reasonably secure spot.

Fire extinguishers are different; fires aren't likely to happen more often in sketchy neighbourhoods. But I know this from when a fire at my cottage burned my garage down - the typical sized fire extinguishers people carry or even have in their house aren't good for much but the smallest of fires. We had two on hand and they didn't do much, even on a fire in its earlier stages.

 

[GreyGhost]

Fire extinguishers are different; fires aren't likely to happen more often in sketchy neighbourhoods. But I know this from when a fire at my cottage burned my garage down - the typical sized fire extinguishers people carry or even have in their house aren't good for much but the smallest of fires. We had two on hand and they didn't do much, even on a fire in its earlier stages.

I only have 5 lb extinguishers in the cars. Useless against a structure fire. The intent is to beat the fire back and buy a few seconds to get people out of a vehicle/tent/whatever. I am under no illusion that it is putting out a fire that has already been established. Given the number of times I use it and size/cost/weight, I am ok with my compromise.

 

[Jampy00]

Thanks @GreyGhost for the reply. I also wouldn't carry naloxone outside the house and certainly not on my bike. I live in downtown Toronto, am very familiar with neighbourhoods where you might expect a lot users, and I'm sorry but I'm not going near someone OD'ing. I'm not risking getting their bodily fluids on me, I'm not risking getting poked by a needle, and I'm not risking getting hurt by the person or any bystanders. I'll call 911 once I am in a reasonably secure spot.

I agree with this.

 

[timtune]

Which is a good reason not to carry a kit unless you really need one.

Why would people carry naloxone if they're not travelling with an opioid user? Just in case they run into someone OD'ing?

Yes to just in case. With so much opioid abuse I just think it's a good idea.

 

[Baggsy]

I have a bleeding control kit, a burn dressing, and a pocket mask to start with, then various bandages, tape, a blanket, and smaller kits.
Bleeding control kit has a SAM XT tourniquet, an Israeli bandage, shears, gloves, gauze, instructions. Can't afford hemostatic dressings yet.

Edit: Hemostatic dressings might need the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner according to the product description:

CHITOSAM 100

ChitoSAM™ 100 is a high-performance hemostatic, non-woven chitosan dressing spun directly from chitosan derived from crustaceans or snow crab shells.

www.sammedical.com

 

[crankcall]

First aid kits are good , also good to take a basic first aid training course . Like everything you hope to never need it , but it’s handy to know how to use it , safely.


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