First aid cream/solution for trail carnage

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations for minimal yet decent first aid to carry along on rides? Also recommendation
on a product that REALLY WORKS specifically to kill the stinging pain and prevent infection.

I just let myself bleed until I can get back home and clean myself up with soap and water. I've
never found much use for first aid kits on the trail. Besides, it's more fun to tell the story of
the crash when the blood is still oozing down your leg.

-John Morgan

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 19:56:34 -0700, John Morgan <[email hidden]> penned:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations for minimal yet decent first aid to carry along on rides? Also recommendation
on a product that REALLY WORKS specifically to kill the stinging pain and prevent infection.

I just let myself bleed until I can get back home and clean myself up with soap and water. I've
never found much use for first aid kits on the trail. Besides, it's more fun to tell the story of
the crash when the blood is still oozing down your leg.

-John Morgan

I haven't had tons of experience yet getting banged up on trails (just wait!), but I have to say, I
got a lot of admiration the other day after shredding my knee on some rocks. Fairly minor cut, but
since I kept riding, the blood just kept pumping out, leaving a really wicked-looking trail all the
way down my shin. I doubt anyone would have been nearly impressed if I'd covered that beauty up with
a bandaid ...

Seriously, as dirty as a cut caused by mother nature can get, I would think some amount of bleed
time helps clean it up.

All that being said, have you tried the anti-sting form of Neosporin? I use it all the time at home
(yes, I'm a clutz), and it seems to work fine.

--
monique

My pointless ramblings: bounceswoosh.orgindex.phpOpen ↗

"Destroy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking for some feedback on what sort of cream/spray/solution to carry along with the normal
first aid stuff in ones tail pack on longer rides.

Took my first substantial digger yesterday (20mph, clipped in, downhill slide on hip, going
too fast in turn and tucked front end) and got a few nice raspberries to show for it; big one
on my hip. Luckily I was on the end of my ride and only .5 mile from my car but had I been on
the far end of the trail would have been nice to have something more than my sweaty sock to
put over my wound.

Any recommendations for minimal yet decent first aid to carry along on rides? Also recommendation
on a product that REALLY WORKS specifically to kill the stinging pain and prevent infection.

Thanks.

Here's my tried and true method: Wash it the dirt with water from my C-bak. Pat dry. Wipe down with
an alcohol based wound wipe. Cover it with Neosporin, gauze and then an Ace bandage.

What shorts were you wearing? Amazingly, I've never had my hip torn up in spite of some nasty
crashes. Nema Jewels :^ ) are very sturdy... then again, 20mph is pretty fast to take a spill.
--
Slacker

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 19:56:34 -0700, John Morgan <[email hidden]>

penned:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations for minimal yet decent first aid to carry along on rides? Also
recommendation on a product that REALLY WORKS specifically to kill the stinging pain and
prevent infection.

Some alcohol wipes to clean things up and an application of New Skin liquid bandage... both sting
but that's how you know it's working. At least that is what I keep telling myself. ;-) It keeps the
wound closed, keeps additional dirt out, is antiseptic, and is flexible. All these qualities are
handy in a bandage while continuing to ride.

I found out about New Skin on a 1986, 3,142 mile, solo mountain bike trip all over the state of FL
and then north to upstate NY. In addition to the ride itself I did a lot of adventuring... snorkling
in the Keys, camping in the Everglades back country, and visited myriad museums, national forests,
etc. I had problems with saddle sores after a couple months on the road (I was gone for three
months). A pharmacist in Williamsburg, VA suggested New Skin and I became a believer.

Upon purchasing the New Skin I rode right back to my camp, got in the tent, dropped my shorts, put
my legs up in the air while laying on my back, painted the New Skin on my butt, and pulled my
shorts up. A few minutes later I realized the error of my ways... I had glued my underwear to my
butt! Peeling the underwear off only added insult to injury... ;-) After that I let the New Skin
dry before getting dressed... and it did the job I asked by allowing me to travel the last 600
miles or so.

Anyhow, New Skin comes in small bottles that are easy to pack in a small saddle pack.

John

"John Grossbohlin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Upon purchasing the New Skin I rode right back to my camp, got in the

tent,

Quoted message said:

dropped my shorts, put my legs up in the air while laying on my back, painted the New Skin on my
butt, and pulled my shorts up.

John

So, are you still in therapy or have they let you out?

--
Slacker - once got Heat on my sac, but that was purely by mistake...a big frig'n mistakte

"Destroy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking for some feedback on what sort of cream/spray/solution to carry along with the normal
first aid stuff in ones tail pack on longer rides.

I don't even carry band aids. Just let it bleed; you'll get more oohs and Dude!'s back at the
car that way.

Bill "Ah've always relied on the kindness of strangers (or Bill Porter, if he's around)" S.

In "]news:[email hidden], Sorni <[email hidden]> scrawled
in lipstick:

Quoted message said:

"Destroy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking for some feedback on what sort of cream/spray/solution to carry along with the normal
first aid stuff in ones tail pack on longer rides.

Kathleen mentioned something called "brave soldier" which I haven't been able to find.

Quoted message said:

Penny

Penny S said:

Kathleen mentioned something called "brave soldier" which I haven't been able to find.

Isn't that those guys who just let it bleed?

(sorry you haven't been able to find any - didn't know you were looking)
:-)

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

RE/

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations for minimal yet decent first aid to carry along on rides? Also recommendation
on a product that REALLY WORKS specifically to kill the stinging pain and prevent infection.

I carry one of those little squeeze bottles that demo contact lens wetting solution comes in -
filled with BetaDyne. I guess it's about an ounce.

Started doing that when a local road cyclist went down, contracted an antibiotic-resistant infection
in the road rash, and subsquently lost his leg.

Also, I carry just water to drink - no mixtures in my water bottles - so when I really gash
something I can sluce it out from my water bottles before squirting the BetaDyne into it.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

In "]news:[email hidden], (Pete Cresswell) <[email hidden]> scrawled in lipstick:

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations for minimal yet decent first aid to carry along on rides? Also recommendation
on a product that REALLY WORKS specifically to kill the stinging pain and prevent infection.

I carry one of those little squeeze bottles that demo contact lens wetting solution comes in -
filled with BetaDyne. I guess it's about an ounce.

Started doing that when a local road cyclist went down, contracted an antibiotic-resistant
infection in the road rash, and subsquently lost his leg.

Also, I carry just water to drink - no mixtures in my water bottles - so when I really gash
something I can sluce it out from my water bottles before squirting the BetaDyne into it.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

be careful with the betadyne, it kills everything, not just the bad bugs. I usually rinse really
well on teh trail; if it's bad it gets neosporing ( sample foil pack) and guaze, tape. There's no
way you can clean something very well on the trail so I save the major cleaning for home

Penny

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In "]news:[email hidden], Sorni <[email hidden]> scrawled in
lipstick:

Quoted message said:

"Destroy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking for some feedback on what sort of cream/spray/solution to carry along with the normal
first aid stuff in ones tail pack on longer rides.

Kathleen mentioned something called "brave soldier" which I haven't been able to find.

Quoted message said:

Penny

Performance Bike carries it.

Mike

Quoted message said:

Some alcohol wipes to clean things up and an application of New Skin liquid bandage... both sting
but that's how you know it's working. At least that is what I keep telling myself. ;-) It keeps
the wound closed, keeps additional dirt out, is antiseptic, and is flexible. All these qualities
are handy in a bandage while continuing to ride.

Lots of great ideas, thanks all. I'll have to check out New Skin, sounds like the cats meow for an
actual temporary flexy bandage.

RE/

Quoted message said:

be careful with the betadyne, it kills everything, not just the bad bugs. I usually rinse really
well on teh trail; if it's bad it gets neosporing ( sample foil pack) and guaze, tape. There's no
way you can clean something very well on the trail so I save the major cleaning for home

The trauma nurse that cleaned out my last big puncture said that she doesn't like to use betadyne
for that reason - too much tissue gets killed.

I got on the betadyne kick after two experiences:

1) Being quite close to the 'nam situation without the misfortune of actually being *in* it. I kept
hearing that betadyne was the battlefield standby - just pour the stuff into the wound and ship
the guy to the Phillipines.

2) While building a boat in a tropical region, I grazed the back of one thumb with some sandpaper -
just a little abrasion was all it was. Within six hours the area had puffed up to the size of a
walnut. Within 12 hours I was *really* sick and my face was puffed up like a basketball - I
couldn't recognize myself in the mirror. I was in and out of conciousness for several days. Never
did figure out what it was but my uneducated guess was that it was some systemic thing that came
from the infected abrasion.

So, in spite of advice to the contrary from people who know I continue to immediately dump the stuff
into any wound that I get in the field. Haven't had any ill effects to date - and I haven't had
another infected wound either.

The prospect of antibiotic-resistant staph seems to dwarf any downside to the practice.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

Alcohol is not recommended on open wounds, povidone-iodine is much better. It seems the key to
prevent infection is to remove all foreign stuff - a small plastic syringe with a plastic tip is
really useful for that. Also I don't think you want to close a wound except in a very controlled
environment (doctor or ER), you'll most likely end up with an infection. If it needs closing I see a
doctor, otherwise I keep cleaning it up every day.

Check out this URL, there is a very good 'biking first aid kit" section:

utahmountainbiking.comfirstaidOpen ↗

Franck

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

Any recommendations for minimal yet decent first aid to carry along on rides? Also recommendation
on a product that REALLY WORKS specifically to kill the stinging pain and prevent infection.

I carry one of those little squeeze bottles that demo contact lens wetting solution comes in -
filled with BetaDyne. I guess it's about an ounce.

Started doing that when a local road cyclist went down, contracted an antibiotic-resistant
infection in the road rash, and subsquently lost his

leg.

Quoted message said:

Also, I carry just water to drink - no mixtures in my water bottles - so

when I

Quoted message said:

really gash something I can sluce it out from my water bottles before

squirting

Quoted message said:

the BetaDyne into it.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

"Franck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Alcohol is not recommended on open wounds, povidone-iodine is much better.

Provolone should only be administered by a trained Rominian.

Bill "careful reader (albeit a bit cheesy)" S.

Penny S said:

In "]news:[email hidden], Sorni <[email hidden]> scrawled in
lipstick:

Quoted message said:

"Destroy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking for some feedback on what sort of cream/spray/solution to carry along with the normal
first aid stuff in ones tail pack on longer rides.

Kathleen mentioned something called "brave soldier" which I haven't been able to find.

Quoted message said:

Penny

Penny try bravesoldier.combravesoldier.comOpen ↗

"Destroy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Some alcohol wipes to clean things up and an application of New Skin

liquid

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bandage... both sting but that's how you know it's working. At least

that is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

what I keep telling myself. ;-) It keeps the wound closed, keeps

additional

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

dirt out, is antiseptic, and is flexible. All these qualities are handy

in a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bandage while continuing to ride.

Lots of great ideas, thanks all. I'll have to check out New Skin, sounds like the cats meow for an
actual temporary flexy bandage.

For deep lacerations, its good to keep some Superglue in the Rx bag. It works great as a suture.
Closes up the wound better and hurts less than stitches. Key to using it is keeping the wound
closed long enough for the glue to surface bond the skin molecules back together. But once that's
done and assuming the skin is not stressed again, its a great way to put yourself back together and
minimize scaring.

It also works great if applied topically to blisters or near blisters. Like New Skin if forms a
tough protective layer between the skin and irritant. I find it bonds better than New Skin but is
less flexible. So works best to build up several very thin layers being sure to flex the skin to
create many micro factures in the hard epoxy coating. It's like instant callus. Great stuff!

Hugh

Destroy said...

Quoted message said:

Lots of great ideas, thanks all. I'll have to check out New Skin, sounds like the cats meow for an
actual temporary flexy bandage.

Be warned that New Skin is excruciatingly painful to use. It burns like acid when you put it on and
keeps burning longer than anything I have ever used.

"Slacker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"John Grossbohlin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Upon purchasing the New Skin I rode right back to my camp, got in the

tent,

Quoted message said:

dropped my shorts, put my legs up in the air while laying on my back, painted the New Skin on my
butt, and pulled my shorts up.

John

So, are you still in therapy or have they let you out?

The 3 month bike trip WAS therapy. You should have seen me before that! ;-)

John