Accidents happen! What’s in your cycling first aid kit?

While it’s a lot of fun, great exercise and a super-convenient (and green) way to get around, cycling isn’t without it’s mishaps… Especially when kids are learning to ride on their own two wheels for the first time, bumps, scrapes and even rogue hedges that leap out of nowhere are likely to happen!

And if like us, you enjoy a trip to the trails, you’ve probably seen more than the average cyclist.

So, are you prepared for the inevitable, but hopefully rare accident?

Common cycling injuries

Cuts, bruises, scrapes, splinters, bits of gravel stuck in the hand or knee – I’m wincing just writing that… These are the most likely injuries you’ll come across when cycling with kids. Oh, and bites, stings and nettle rash.

If you’re a bit more adventurous, then you might get twisted ankles or wrists, and at the more extreme end of cycling injury, broken wrists, arms, legs or collar bones (from falling with outstretched arms).

And of course, you should always be on the look out for head injury – wearing a cycle helmet is essential to massively reduce the risks, but you can still suffer a nasty bang on the boko resulting in dizziness or concussion.

What to pack in a cyclist’s first aid kit

With those common injuries in mind, it might be worth packing your own cycling first aid kit. There are some great ones on the market, and in fact a clearly marked first aid bag is probably a good idea for quick and easy identification, but you can put your own together for a small price, and you’ve probably got lots of the following items at home already:

• Waterproof bag for the kit
• Sunscreen
• Hand sanitiser
• Disposable gloves
• Insect repellent / after bite spray
• Sterile saline solution / eye wash
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Alcohol wipes
• Assorted sticking plasters or ‘cut to size strip’
• Blister plasters
• Wound dressings – No2 and No3 ambulance dressings
• Eye dressing
• Micropore tape
• Foil blanket
• CPR face shield

I know this might seem like a very long list, and we haven’t even mentioned triangular or strip bandages, but it’s a good start to choose the items you think are most relevant to you and your children, but most importantly, your ride.

Even if you cycle in a group of people, or go where there are plenty of other cyclists, it’s better to be safe than assume someone else will be able to come to your aid.

You’ve got the gear – but no idea?

It’s all very well carrying the kit, but do you know what to do in an emergency?

Our top tip is to make sure you have enough phone battery for the duration of your ride, or take a portable power bank just in case.

We'd also advise downloading What3Words which can be used by all emergency services to locate you within a square metre - this is also great for sharing parking spots and meeting places 'off map'.

There is no legal obligation for cycling group leaders to take a first aid course, although it is highly recommended that they do. And we’d recommend you take one for your own peace of mind too.

You never know, it could be you that comes to the aid of an injured child and is able to calm their fears.