I took an EMT course and got certified about 10 years ago. Problem is, you're going to be lacking
most of their equipment when you're riding and you'll need to stabilize the victim (or yourself)
longer than for a 5 minute ambulance ride to the hospital. They do give you a solid dose of advanced
first aid though.
As far as bike first aid kit contents for day trips, I skip the bandaid and ibuprofen type stuff, as
minor injuries/pain don't really need to be treated until you get back to the vehicle where there is
a real first aid kit. I do carry a big bloodstopper gauze compress, some duct tape to fix those
sucking chest wounds, a triangular bandage that can be used for slinging your arm if you break a
collarbone or holding on an improvised splint if you break an arm or leg, a tampon for gunshot
wounds during hunting season, and one of those foil blankets when its cold. I never really
considered gloves essential for biking first aid, but they would be handy when your chain breaks. If
you can't find a wilderness first aid course, get "Medicine for Mountaineering" and study it, as it
covers a lot of things like reducing dislocated shoulders.
Technician wrote:
> In article <
[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> >
> > > Technician wrote:
> > >> I have knowledge retained from first-aid training in school, so i know most of the basics, as
> > >> well as most of the more involved treatments. such as (what i belive to be) the proper method
> > >> of applying a tourniquet (either release to allow blood flow into the area, or only apply
> > >> just tight enough to allow blood to flow slowly to prevent tissue damage), and how to treat
> > >> large wounds. i will of course see about a first-aid course to freshen the knowledge, as well
> > >> as a CPR course.
> > >>
> >
> > and tourniquets? Better you know what do about broken collar bones, shoulder dislocation, busted
> > wrist, snake bite or beesting; lacerations and abrasions, broken tooth, shock, head injury,
> > heatstroke and hypothermia, diabetic reaction.. things that might occur on a bike ride.
> >
>
> Yeah, i know a few things about many of those, but not enough to actually treat somebody for them.
> that's why i plan to take a course in first-aid.
>
> Who knows, i may take up my past interest to become an EMT, that should cover most of those as far
> as training, and frequent practice.
>
> > We keep several first aid kits... the bike ride one (ziplock), the backpacking one(small stuff
> > sack) and then the raft kit; (large) all increasing in both size, content and level of
> > preparation for large emergencies. On wilderness raft trips we even carry suture kits etc.. but
> > again you better know how to use this stuff.
> >
> > One first aid class doesn't cut it.. you need to keep up the knowledge and training with ongoing
> > practice and refreshers penny
> >
>
> I knew that much already. It is after all potentially somebodies life. trust me, even it is the
> only thing about me that you trust, that i do not take medical aid lightly. Perhaps an EMT course
> would be a good idea anyway. that way i would have the skills, and the knowledge of how to use
> them. and as an added benefit, i will have a foot in the door should i decide to become a
> full-time EMT. My family is pretty good friends with a group of EMTs that dine at the same place
> and time as we do. one of them is the head EMT i guess you could call her. i have spoken with her
> in the past on becoming an EMT.
> --
> ~Travis
>
> travis57 at megalink dot net