I recently took a first aid course for work. I haven’t done such a course for more than 10 years (heck, perhaps even longer!), and a lot has changed. “Back in the day” when I took standard first aid, we spent lots and lots of time learning how to splint limbs, dress sucking chest wounds and bandage an ice-pick pierced through a hand. We worked on rescue breathing, but CPR was considered to be too specialized or had too much potential to inflict damage so it was a separate course (that I never bothered to take). Fast forward to February 2008 and I learned that CPR is the most important thing you can learn. I’m glad I took the course, even though I ended up with tendonitis. It was endless fodder for my colleagues while I was healing. “Hey Dude, you can’t, like, bring those dummies back to life you know.” Haw haw haw. I guess I was just eager to learn.
The course got me thinking about just how prepared I am for everyday problems. “Back in the day” there was little discussion about barrier devices and gloves. These two pieces of equipment are now critical to protect both the first aider and the casualty. I have this stuff in the big first aid kit that lives in the trunk of the car. While I spend entirely too much time in the car, I also spend a great deal of time walking and riding around. Without the protective gear, I would have a tough moral choice ahead of me if I happened upon someone in trouble. Better to keep a barrier device and some gloves on my person whenever I can. I haven’t done this yet, but I’m working on it.
It got me thinking a little deeper though. I’m not an island. Lots of other folks know first aid and might be similarly ill-equipped to handle emergencies. Emergencies that might happen to me! If I’ve got this material in my jersey, or in my saddle bag, there is a chance it could be found and used to help me out. Heck, most people bring basic repair gear with them. Stuff like patches, extra tubes, air pumps etc. Why not stuff to temporarily repair me or my riding friends?
I’m going to assemble a small kit for my saddle bag with the essential protective material, as well as some basic stuff to dress the cuts and scrapes that can be an unpleasant part of riding if you go down. What to YOU carry when you ride?
Contents of Bicycle First Aid Box (now a bag)
Swiss Army Knife (Tinker model)
Two quarters
Two doller bills
One roll adhesive tape, 1/2 inch. waterproof.
Plastic bag containing:
Bike To Work Day First Aid kit contents
One blank identification card
Two Band Aids, 1/2 inch
Three Di Gel tablets
One package of Two Tylenol Extra Strength Geltabs, expired 2/96
One package alcohol prep wipe
Plastic bag containing:
One 4 in. x 4 in. Sterile Pad
Three 3 in. x 3 in. Sterile Gauze Pads
Two 2 in. x 3 in. Sterile Non-Stick Pads
Six 2 in. x 2 in. Sterile Pads
One package Betadine Swab Aid pad, expired 1/92
One roll Dermalinte II tape, 3/4 inch
Four Band Aids, 1/2 inch
One package of Two Tylenol Extra Strength Geltabs, expired 2/98
Two Bendryl capsules, expired 6/99
Four Butterfly Closures
One Chapstick
Two Moist Towelettes
Two Di Gel tablets, loose and dirty.
One Film Can containing:
One pair Folding Scissors
One Needle
One First Aid Kit Inventory card, laminated
Missing Items:
Bacitracin
Moleskin
Matches
Insect Sting kit
Pills that are un-expired!