Mountain Biker First Aid Guide: How to Minimize Injury?
Falling is an inevitable part of mountain biking. Although the consequences are usually minor, serious accidents can still happen. If an accident happens to you and you need to help a friend or stranger without the knowledge, things can get really bad. So take a look at this first aid guide we've put together to minimize the damage caused by a fall.
1. Where are you going? The risks of riding on the trails near your home are different to going to the mountain bike park or exploring new routes. You need to deal with sudden changes in weather, poor mobile phone coverage, and difficult to reach help. Memorize local emergency numbers in advance and find out if there are special rescue contacts in your area or bike park so that you can find help. Being able to accurately describe your location will save valuable time and energy. 2. Do I have the right equipment? Is the protective gear you are wearing sufficient to make you comfortable and safe on the terrain you are about to face? Check your equipment: Is the bike in good condition? Check the most important screws regularly, especially before a long ride. How old is your helmet and have you been in a fall before? Do you have a first aid kit? Is your phone fully charged? These are questions to consider. Few of us like riding with a fanny pack or backpack, but you certainly don’t want to be without a first aid kit in an emergency. If you ride with friends, you can make arrangements in advance so that you don’t forget to take unnecessary gear with you. Many manufacturers integrate useful features into their products, such as POC’s NFC chip. Almost everyone carries a phone in their pocket. Take advantage of the phone’s features, such as Apple’s Medical ID, so that anyone who finds you can easily access your medical information and emergency contact details. NFC chip in the new POC Kortal Race MIPS helmet. Important information such as emergency contact details, address and allergies can be stored in the NFC chip via an app. The helmet also has a RECCO reflector, which enables rescue services to locate you more easily through special sensors. 3. Prevention is the key Ride sensibly and don’t overestimate your abilities. If you ride alone in remote areas, don’t try risky moves or big jumps. If you don’t feel in good shape, don’t make big jumps or try to break Strava records. If the network signal is poor, remember that you must ask for help. This article is not an online first aid course, but it encourages you to regularly update your first aid knowledge. We strongly recommend that you and your fellow riders take courses designed for outdoor sports. Local rescue teams or other organizations offer a variety of training. What to do in the event of an accident Staying calm is key. If you suddenly find yourself in a dangerous situation and don't know what to do next, the solution is to take 10 seconds to think about what to do in the next 10 minutes. Let go of everything, take a deep breath, prioritize what is really important and decide how to act. Stay calm, don't panic and act blindly, and most importantly, protect the injured. Secure the accident scene, especially on sparsely traveled trails, move bikes and equipment out of the way to avoid another collision. If this is not possible, set up warning signs far enough away from the accident so that you can be seen. Remember the following five "Ws" Where is the accident (Where)? Who (Who) is calling (Who)? What happened (What)? Who (Who) is affected (Who)? Wait (Wait) for the other party to respond. It is better to have multiple guides, because there are usually vehicles arriving at different times, and the roads may be difficult to navigate and require more signs. As a support person, also stay on the scene after the rescue services arrive in case they need information or assistance. That being said, also give the rescuers room to work, don’t step on their equipment, and don’t get close to your injured partner. Luckily, most people are very helpful in an emergency. Accept someone’s offer of help, even if you can’t immediately think of what to ask them to do at the time. While no one likes the worst-case scenario to happen, it’s part of our sport and we have to face it head on. Preparation and prevention can help reduce risk, and regularly updating your first aid skills will keep you calm in an emergency. This is no substitute for professional rescue services in serious situations, but it can keep you, the rescuers, and the injured safer and keep us prepared for the worst. |
