Biomechanics

By Amanda Brunner

Trail-Side First Aid

Let’s be honest, we risk injury every time we go out to ride. This month I intend to provide some suggestions on how to perform simple first aid until help arrives. In the moments directly after an injury, every second counts. CPR is something riders of all ages should know as it proven to save lives. Classes are typically inexpensive and some are even free. They are often offered at local schools and hospitals. It's also good to carry some type of communication device (cellular phone/ walky-talky) to ensure you will be able to get help in a hurry. Now even cell phones that are not active are still able to dial out 911 to report an emergency.

Now let’s take a look at a typical scenario. You’re riding down a steep cliff and the rider in front of takes a big rag doll. You run up to him and notice that a sharp stick is sticking out of the rider’s arm. What do you do? First of all never try to remove the object. There is a good possibility in the case of a deep puncture wound that the obstruction may be the only thing keeping the sufferer from bleeding to death. Control hemorrhaging by applying direct pressure but do not apply any pressure over the object itself or over tissue that lies behind the cutting edge.

Stabilize the object with a bulky dressing; if nothing better is available, tear a piece of fabric from a jersey, pants, etc. Do not try to manipulate the object in any way; for example never cut the object to make it shorter. Seek out medical attention immediately.

Burns are another injury commonly incurred in the wilderness. Be it the result of hidden downed electrical lines, camp fire mishaps, or even overexposure to the sun. The first and perhaps most logical step is to remove the victim from the source of the burn. If it's an electrical burn and the victim is still in contact with that electrical source DO NOT TOUCH THE PERSON. Instead, remove the electrical source with a dry, nonconductive object (such as wood). There are many types of burns and each has its own type of care. For a thermal burn remove non-adherent clothing and jewelry, cover with a dressing dampened in normal saline and then wrap with a dry dressing.

For a scald, cool the surface using cool water immediately and cover the same as you would with the thermal burn. A chemical burn is handled a little bit differently: Remove any clothing and flush are with a generous amount of water for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes.

Fractures are another common injury that commonly occurs upon impact in a bike crash. If this happens do not try to remove the victim before splinting a fracture (unless of course the victim is in immediate danger like a in the path of traffic, spreading fire, on top of a bear’s den, etc. Cover any open wounds with gauze before splinting. Splint the fracture in the position it was found DO NOT try to “bend it back”. Apply a makeshift splint to include the joints above and below the suspected fracture. Since splints work best with soft material and a hard material for support, a good makeshift splint could be a stick wrapped tightly with a shirt or jersey. Make sure you handle the fractured part gently to prevent pain and/or shock.

The trails are a dangerous place but should trouble find you, remain calm and think it through. A level head can make all the difference.