Crash kit

[Pseudonym]

Right, I’m putting together a crash kit for us to carry around as we zip through the countryside.
This isn’t to whip out for every little nick and scratch you get, this is for when you round a corner and one of your group is down or you find a car on its roof.
This is to keep them breathing and stop blood loss while you wait for the professionals to come.

I want to keep it light and small, something you can have in a little pack/bum bag, taped to your inner fairing or under your seat.

I want to know what you would want to have in it.
Small and light remember, not all of us have Goldwings and 10 years of paramedic training for a full kit.

I can have them put in a waterproof sealed one use pack.
Celox Z-fold gauze, this is used in nice happy places like Afghanistan and Iraq by the medics to stop leaks, good proven stuff, maybe two of them.
Gloves and a CPR mouth guard, got to keep yourself safe too.
Something to cut our gear off, what I’d like runs at $200USD per unit so ether some leather eating scissors or maybe a blunt tipped rescue knife? Any suggestions? (I’ll look into the St Johns supplier for their shears)
One of the emergency blankets, they keep rain off and can been seen from the air.

One use, no opening them just for fun and the outside will be labelled with the contents.
Two reasons for having them a one hit use, firstly it keeps them sealed and watertight.
Secondly, and most importantly, everything you pull out is going to be contaminated.

I’m getting advice from paramedics and rescue organisations, but any ideas that you have please let me know.

Sorry, no idea on cost yet.

[MSTRS:Me]

No idea on stuff you'd need, but...
A point to remember when cutting off leathers. Not everyone will thank you for completing the job of destroying them, so if you can, consider ripping up the seams. That way, they can maybe be repaired later.

[Timmeh:P]

Good idea!

I currently carry around a small first aid kit under my seat on my bike. But is lacking a lot of things that would be useful in an emergency situation.

I would also add the following:

Hand sanitizer
Curved scissors (for cutting cloths not leathers) - so you don't cause further injuries with sharp pointed scissors.
Triangular bandage
Normal saline - wash wounds / eyes etc.
Steri-strips
Burn cream
Large bandages - not silly small ones. Bigger the better!

Maybe a sticker for the bike? If you had a crash - a sticker on the motorcycle with: "First Aid Kit on Board" (or something similar) may be useful to who ever may come across you first.

[Gremlin]

Made a blog on it a little while ago... may be of some use: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...829-09-2011%29

[The Singing Chef]

what about a flare, for visibility from obscure places.

[Bytor]

or visibility from obscure places.

Isn't that called a high viz vest

[The Singing Chef]

Isn't that called a high viz vest

Don't be silly! nobody sees hi-vis vests haha. I mean for when you go over a bank like Katie pie.

[Pseudonym]

Curved scissors (for cutting cloths not leathers) - so you don't cause further injuries with sharp pointed scissors.

The scissors I’m looking at have a blunt (folded) lower blade tip to prevent them stabbing in to the patient.

No idea on stuff you'd need, but...
A point to remember when cutting off leathers. Not everyone will thank you for completing the job of destroying them, so if you can, consider ripping up the seams. That way, they can maybe be repaired later.

Cutting down the side of zips and through stretch panels is often the easiest but depending on the location of the wound may not be practical.
I have to admit I’d be a bit upset if someone totalled my leathers…

Large bandages - not silly small ones. Bigger the better!

A couple of big bandages where on the first list but I dropped them for the space, if it’s too big no one will carry it.
Might be a good idea to put them in though, or maybe one large one folded flat?
Burn cream and steri-strips are getting back to the “nicks & cuts” sort of kit, good to have in a pocket but not much use in the aftermath of a major spill.
Some sort of sanitizer though…

I like the sticker idea, what about a good size (100X30mm) “Emergency Kit” with a separate arrow that can be pointed to the location?

The concept behind this kit is for first response to keep them alive while the chopper is on its way.
Think of it as a supplementary kit if you will, it’s is the one you don’t want to ever have to use.

Made a blog on it a little while ago... may be of some use: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...829-09-2011%29

Cool ta.
I like the PLB! I have a GPS tracker on the bike with a SOS function but yours would be the better bet.

what about a flare, for visibility from obscure places.

Be a good idea for the off road/adventure riders but even then I’d want them separate.
And the rescue blanket is a good marker too.

Thanks guys, keep them coming!

[p.dath]

There's actually a European standard for first aid kits for automotive use.

I'd start by going to the AA and simply buying one of them ready to go. CycleTreads also sell a small version more suited to motorcyclists (which is what I carry under my seat).

I also did one of the St John's first aid express courses. Takes a whole day. Well worthwhile. I think I even know what to use most of the things in my first aid kit for!

[Pseudonym]

The problem with the standard kits is they often lack anything more than a few Band-Aids and some dinky little scissors.
The little kits are a good idea and handy to have (I have one in my tail pack) but not much use for the more life threatening injuries.

What I’m hoping to get out there is more of a supplementary kit to stop major blood loss from penetrating injuries that can occur from broken bones on their way out or bits of bike etc on their way in or where the road or other object has taken a chunk out of someone.

But a first aid course is a must.

[p.dath]

The problem with the standard kits is they often lack anything more than a few Band-Aids and some dinky little scissors.
The little kits are a good idea and handy to have (I have one in my tail pack) but not much use for the more life threatening injuries.

What I’m hoping to get out there is more of a supplementary kit to stop major blood loss from penetrating injuries that can occur from broken bones on their way out or bits of bike etc on their way in or where the road or other object has taken a chunk out of someone.

But a first aid course is a must.

Even the little kit I have on my motorcycle has that. You just need to pack the wound with gauze or something and wrap a bandage around it. I guess it depends on how "major" it is. Someone coming off at 100km/h on tar seal wearing a T-Shirt is going to have a lot of major blood loss ...

[Pseudonym]

And that is what this kit is for, the large chest wound or cut artery that can happen in a major crash.
Or a minor one if you’re in a T-shirt…
The trick is to stop the blood loss, if too much gets out the body will shut down and the chance of survival drops.

If you’re happy with what you have then stick with it.

[p.dath]

And that is what this kit is for, the large chest wound or cut artery that can happen in a major crash.
Or a minor one if you’re in a T-shirt…
The trick is to stop the blood loss, if too much gets out the body will shut down and the chance of survival drops.

If you’re happy with what you have then stick with it.

A cut artery is not such a problem. Simply apply pressure with your hand. In my case, I probably wouldn't do anything else. I'd just wait till the ambulance arrived. It doesn't matter how you've stopped that bleed, just as long as it is stopped.

But a large chest wound? Your probably going to be carrying around a very big first aid kit if you want to be able to cater for the most serious of accidents. A large white van with a red cross on the side would probably be about right. Your probably going to need a lot of training to deal with an accident like that as well.

Very commendable.

[DrunkenMistake]

Sorry I cant contribute anything of use, but I think this is a fantastic idea,
some sportsbike riders with dark solid screens could even consider tucking them in behind the screen so they are there and just out of the way but not overly visible, having them on the inside of the fairings taped in would also be a good idea, but I would be worried about the heat from the motor/exhaust melting any plastic the pack is in, or its components, not sure if there is something to look into in that I dont know the logistics of packaging haha.

[BurningPlastic]

You need a pair of trauma shears for cutting stuff off - they usually have a plastic covered handle and a folded lip on the lower blade so they'll run along skin underneath the clothing as you cut.

I also try to carry a pressure bandage, some pads, gauze and tape (usually 2 rolls - some light tape for holding pads in place and heavy stuff if binding is needed). A little bottle of betadine is good for disinfecting quickly. Steristrips or similar are handy, and if you have the space a pair of tweezers is useful as well. Paracetomol and Ibuprofen are useful as well. Gloves and a breath shield as well.

The saline is a good idea although I don't usually have space in my bike kit. If you have saline then it's often useful to have a syringe so you can direct it more accurately...

I also carry always carry a knife and that can be useful in a lot of situations.

D.