_edited.png)
First Aid: is the initial response performed by non-expert in time of emergency until professional help can be accessed.
History: The Earliest known & documented evidence of first aid was in 1099 by religious knights organized by the order of St John – Kinght Hospitallar who extended care to pilgrims and knights for soldiers injured in battle, the four nation meet in Geneva in 1863 led to Red Cross, but it was the Mid 19 th Century the First International Geneva Conference that created Red Cross where soldiers were trained to provide first aid till medics arrived.
As a Motorcycle rider is more exposed to elements the following needs to be considered
Burns – Burns from Exhaust pipes, Sun burn & Heat burns
Eye Injury – Dust from roads and particles that fly in to the eyes
Cuts – Abrasions and Scrapes from hitting the road, or while handling the motorcycle from movement to stationary position or vice versa, during motorcycle maintenance
Altitude sickness: Dehydration, lack of oxygen at high altitudes leading to breathing issues while riding motorcycle
Fractures & bleeding
Trauma – to head & neck, abdomen, chest & spine.
Choosing your first aid pack considering the above factors would be ideal. One of the most ignored items in majority of the rider’s arsenal i have seen is the first aid kit. The need for first aid kit as part of the payload is almost ignored & I have even observed cases wherein the entire group of riders is dependent on the one individual who has a first aid kit! I believe that first aid Kit should be one of the first items you procure & pack as part of your itinerary no matter how short or long the ride is.
Witnessing horrific incidents involving myself & fellow riders and situations when on the road, is what made me realize that the topic of discussion in those forums should also encompass first aid as a primary aspect than gear alone! Over the last few years, i have tried a combination of First aid kits & have finally put together a list of what I believe is a comprehensive kit irrespective of the nature/distance of the ride. Since it’s an evolving topic & has scope for improvement I am happy to take feedback and expert advice to improve the Contents of the first aid kit
General list
Anti-microbial Hand Cleaner – Water less is preferred
Adhesive Tape
Absorbent cotton wool
Digital thermometer
Eye drops
Sterile Gauze Pads - 2 large rolls
Band-Aids, Belladonna Plaster, Pain relief patch
Pain Reliving Spray - For sprains/Muscle catch
Mosquito repellent - Spray , Cream , Coil or cards - (Ensure test for allergy is done prior to use of mosquito repellent cream)
Inhalers - vapor rub or inhaler
Nitrile gloves – 3-4 pair
Emergency Blanket – A compact blanket which can used for retaining body heat\has reflective property\can be used during rain. It’s important to find a compact blanket as it should not over weigh your luggage payload.
Normal sterile saline with a squirt tip for irrigating
Heavy Duty Zip-lock Bags – Uses: disposal of used and contaminated gauze, gloves and dressings.
Tweezers: Easy-to-grip handles for splinter removal and other first aid procedures
Tablets: Over the counter available drugs (Location specific) for
Fever & Body pain
Vomiting
For Headache
Cold/Nose Blockage/Sinusitis
Acidity/Stomach ache
For sore throat
Beta dine - To apply on cuts
Normal Saline 0.9g x 100mL - multipurpose med - can aid in cleaning wounds, cleanse contact lenses & can even double as eye drops
Eye Drops(if you don’t want to rely on saline)
For High Altitude Rides:
Do check your ferritin levels first! Should you be low on ferritin (iron storage protein) levels then you are more likely to be hit by ALS or altitude Level Sickness. The Normal ferritin levels range from 12 to 300 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/ml) for Men and 12 to 150 ng/ml for Women. The preferred tablets are Ibuprofen or Naproxen or dexamethasone or Diamox or acetazolamide. acetazolamide - administer this 8-10 hours before the day of high altitude riding as this would reduce the susceptibility of Headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness & nausea.
Key factors to consider when putting together a Motorcycle First Aid Kit:
A waterproof zipper pouch will come in handy to segregate gauze, bandages, band aids, adhesive tapes in one of the pouch and tweezers, small scissor, blades can be stored in other, in the event of need it will be easier to look for required items to attend the situation.
Ensure the first aid kit is kept in the saddlebag or Tail bag\Tail box, on top, where it can be accessed easily, importantly do not bury the First aid kit and keep the kit in the non-traffic side in the region where you drive or ride, and a identification patch\Sticker\logo outside the saddle\box\bag to ensure easy identification.
Disclaimer provides that such medical information is merely information - not advice. If users need medical advice, they should consult a doctor or other appropriate medical professional. The disclaimer also provides that no warranties are give in relation to the medical information supplied on the website, and that no liability will accrue to the website owner in the event that a user suffers loss as a result of reliance upon the information.
Comentarios