Here is a list of likely physical and medical problems on a bike tour and what you'll need most to fix them. The author is a physician and first aid specialist who tours regularly.
Common Problems
Saddle rash
Knee/ankle/back/neck/wrist/elbow pain
Sunburn
Hypothermia
Hyperthermia
Cuts, scrapes, road rash, splinters
Diarrhea/gastroenteritis (after not washing your hands at that greasy-spoon)
Dehydration
Blisters (e.g. wet palms from riding in the the rain)
Dust or other foreign bodies in the eye
Allergic rhinitis / hay fever
Insect bites
Important Stuff But Less Common
Snake or spider bites
Sprained ankle
Major trauma
Infections from any of the above
Anaphylactic reaction to bites or other allergens
Asthma, heart problems, diabetes may play up with physical exercise
My List
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) General painkiller.
Ibuprofen Painkiller/anti inflammatory. Not safe if you are dehydrated.
Gastrostop Emergency antidiarrheal for temporary use only, it only treats symptoms and can be dangerous in some cases.
Cephalexin Maybe not for your kit unless you have medical training. One of the safer antibiotics and useful for skin/soft tissue infections.
Antihistamine I take zyrtec because the tablets are tiny and easy to swallow.
Strapping Tape A non-elastic tape used by physiotherapists for strapping knees/ankles etc. Also good for blisters, for immobilizing sprained ankles and for holding dressings in place. Skin reactions to this are not uncommon.
Band Aids Self adherent dressings for cuts/scrapes etc.
Hypafix/Mefix/Fixamul A non-woven broad tape that is used to hold other dressings in place. Also very good for blisters, road rash, severe sunburn or superficial blistering burns in general.
Non-Adherent Sterile Dressings To cover large wounds
Antiseptic I take chlorhexidine/cetrimide aqueous solution; iodine (Betadine) is also good.
Sterile Saline For washing wounds and eyes.
2 ACE Elastic Bandages For snake bites and immobilizing fractured limbs.
Needle For removing splinters.
Super Glue (I use a medical grade called Dermabond) for emergency "sutures" for wounds or cracked heels.
Aluminized Mylar Emergency Blanket
Sunscreen
Lots of Water
Sugar Sweets
Zinc Oxide Cream - For sun or wind protection
Most of the above is very compact, but the wound dressings and the ACE bandages are bulky, and the strapping tape is somewhat bulky. You can get very compact synthetic gauze bandages that are almost as good but perhaps 1/3 the bulk, I would recommend these for most people (not cotton crepe bandages).
If going light you can get by with duct tape, super glue, a few bandaids and thin dressings, savlon cream as both antiseptic and chamois cream (or ditch the heavy cream and use chlorine or iodine water tablets in water to wash wounds), 2 ultralight bandages, emergency blanket and some ibuprofen.
Saddle rash
Knee/ankle/back/neck/wrist/elbow pain
Sunburn
Hypothermia
Hyperthermia
Cuts, scrapes, road rash, splinters
Diarrhea/gastroenteritis (after not washing your hands at that greasy-spoon)
Dehydration
Blisters (e.g. wet palms from riding in the the rain)
Dust or other foreign bodies in the eye
Allergic rhinitis / hay fever
Insect bites
Important Stuff But Less Common
Snake or spider bites
Sprained ankle
Major trauma
Infections from any of the above
Anaphylactic reaction to bites or other allergens
Asthma, heart problems, diabetes may play up with physical exercise
My List
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) General painkiller.
Ibuprofen Painkiller/anti inflammatory. Not safe if you are dehydrated.
Gastrostop Emergency antidiarrheal for temporary use only, it only treats symptoms and can be dangerous in some cases.
Cephalexin Maybe not for your kit unless you have medical training. One of the safer antibiotics and useful for skin/soft tissue infections.
Antihistamine I take zyrtec because the tablets are tiny and easy to swallow.
Strapping Tape A non-elastic tape used by physiotherapists for strapping knees/ankles etc. Also good for blisters, for immobilizing sprained ankles and for holding dressings in place. Skin reactions to this are not uncommon.
Band Aids Self adherent dressings for cuts/scrapes etc.
Hypafix/Mefix/Fixamul A non-woven broad tape that is used to hold other dressings in place. Also very good for blisters, road rash, severe sunburn or superficial blistering burns in general.
Non-Adherent Sterile Dressings To cover large wounds
Antiseptic I take chlorhexidine/cetrimide aqueous solution; iodine (Betadine) is also good.
Sterile Saline For washing wounds and eyes.
2 ACE Elastic Bandages For snake bites and immobilizing fractured limbs.
Needle For removing splinters.
Super Glue (I use a medical grade called Dermabond) for emergency "sutures" for wounds or cracked heels.
Aluminized Mylar Emergency Blanket
Sunscreen
Lots of Water
Sugar Sweets
Zinc Oxide Cream - For sun or wind protection
Most of the above is very compact, but the wound dressings and the ACE bandages are bulky, and the strapping tape is somewhat bulky. You can get very compact synthetic gauze bandages that are almost as good but perhaps 1/3 the bulk, I would recommend these for most people (not cotton crepe bandages).
If going light you can get by with duct tape, super glue, a few bandaids and thin dressings, savlon cream as both antiseptic and chamois cream (or ditch the heavy cream and use chlorine or iodine water tablets in water to wash wounds), 2 ultralight bandages, emergency blanket and some ibuprofen.
© 2010 - 2012 Bob Beach
