Medical Equipment and Emergency First Aid Kits

My travelling first aid kit.
Click to enlarge.

Whenever I go on a bicycle touring adventure or mountain biking in the woods I typically carry a small first aid kit with some medical supplies that I can use in an emergency to get myself out of danger.

Of course a first aid or medical kit is absolutely useless without the knowledge to use it effectively so at a minimum I recommend that you consider taking an emergency or standard first aid course to give you a handle on what to do when medical emergencies occurr. Some of the topics that should be of extreme importance to you include understanding heat stroke, hypothermia, and of course how to clean up road rash or other severe abrasions. Since you never know who you might be riding with it makes sense to listen closely to the section on problems with bee stings as well as all of the other topics that are typically taught during a standard first aid course.

Some places have an additional type of first aid course available that focuses on backwoods first aid. These courses are designed to give you additional knowledge about how to cope with situations where you are far from a city and immediate assistance. Since many of use tour away from the big urban centers this course sounds like a great idea that many of use could immediately benefit from!

Additional items that should be considered for your first aid kit in my opinion include sunscreen, a lip balm and sunglasses or their equivalent to help protect your eyes from the glare of the sun. The glasses will also provide some protection from debris thrown at you by cars passing by.

I also carry an elastic bandage with me on tour. This is just a simple roll-up bandage that weighs little and easily stows away taking little space. Should I need something to help me recover from a strain while on tour then this bandage is there to give me some additional support.

I was curious what others do for first aid equipment when they tour. The Feldmann family provided the following list of their first aid kit's contents. The Feldmann's are a family of four planning to cross Canada in 2005 by bicycle.

The Feldmann's first aid kit.
Click to enlarge.

Standard First Aid Kit

1 Rescue Sheet (apprx. 32 sq. ft., weighs less than 3 ounces)
10 Butterfly Closures, 1 ¾” x 3/8” each (sterile waterproof closures for small wounds and incisions)
2 Triangular bandages for making slings
1 4” compressed bandages
1 Compressed gauze dressing
2 Precision Glide needles (individually wrapped; for removing slivers etc.)
10 Gauze pads (3” x 3”)
4 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads (2” x 3”)
2 Sterilized gauze roller wrapping bandages
1 Medium roll (1/2” x 15 feet) waterproof tape
1 Roll self sticking breathable gauze tape
1 Scissors
1 Tweezers
1 Assorted bandaids
2 Elastic tensor bandages
Motrin or Advil
Bag Balm
After-bite pen to help reduce the sting from bug bites.

Homoepathic Items

3 oz. screw top bottle of baking soda for bee stings
3 oz. screw top bottle of vinegar for wasp stings
50 g. tube of Traumeel (for burns, bruises, rashes, sport injuries, sprains, muscle aches, inflammations)
57 g. tube of Calendula Plus (safe relief for sunburn, minor burns, rashes, insect bites, inflammation, cuts, scrapes)
40 ml. tube of Arnica Crème (aching muscles)
Dr. Vogel’s (brand name) Pollinasan tablets (hay fever, allergy attacks)
Activated Charcoal tablets (for diarrhea, gas or intestinal disorders)
Gelsemium Semp tablets for migraines
Ipecacuanha tablets for nausea
1 Helios Homoeopathic Kit containing 18 vials of medicated remedies

You may have noticed the Bag Balm. Many cyclists use Bag Balm, Chamois butter and similar products to help treat saddle sores.

Remember all of the medical and first aid equipment in the world really doesn't help unless you know how to effectively use it!

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