[Closed] Saddle bag first aid kit.

TBH, once you get past sticking plasters and zinc oxide tape there isn't much in most first aid kits that you need. I'd add safety pins, blunt nosed scissors and a pair of tweezers and a surgical bandage. If you yourself require any specific medicines then include those but you have to be wary of giving anything to someone you don't know if you haven't training.

perhaps the worst things you are likely to have to deal with are: cuts - clean and cover with plaster; deep cuts - immobilise & stem blood flow; broken bones - splint. Your problem then is then caring for the casualty (hypothermia, shock, etc) and getting them to full medical attention.

Road: Large self-adhesive dressing, small dressing, wipes and gloves. Rolled up in cling film and in my tool bottle. Duct tape around a pump. I take when leading club rides.

Off road: Small travel first aid kit with duct tape around a pump.

Coaching: As per Off road. Training and kit needed for valid insurance.

This has been discussed before and (predictably) got a bit silly with some people taking a mobile field hospital to a trail center, and others crossing Africa with nothing more than a clean hankie.

I'd say have a think about what you are trying to achieve -
Realistically you should carry a few bits to allow you to cover a cut/graze and carry on with your ride, anything bigger needs a different approach.
There is no point carrying stacks of dressings and bandages, you can improvise using clothing, and infection control is not your greatest problem if you are going hospital anyway.
I'd say something like -

a few plasters, in different sizes
sachet of eye wash
roll of micropore/zinc oxide tape
couple of larger wound pads or dressings
maybe 1 or two smallish bandages
safety pins
tweezers
duct tape wrapped around old credit card.

The above will all fit in a saddle bag, or in a pencil case inside your backpack (that's what mine is in)

That is great, guys.
I picked up a box of big plasters/dressings from Aldi & that is what has kicked this off.
You watch! I'll need it on tomorrow's ride - Sod's law!

I've got a tiny FAK zip bag with spares and first aid stuff in it. Got it from the poundshop, then changed the contents to be specific to what I need

Usual stuff like cable ties and tyre repair bits, quick links for chain, leatherman bit kit and plus:
safety pins
mini micropore
cleansing wipes
small dressing
steristrips
small selection of plasters
duct tape (wrapped around a piece of card so its flat)

its a little bag, looks like a tiny pencil case

Haven't taken anything more serious as my riding isn't that serious and I'm hoping I'll be able to bodge stuff together using the other bits around me

I like these - first aid kits for ultramarathon runners. [url= http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/products/AdventureMedicalKits/UltralightandWatertight3FirstAidKit.aspx?gclid=CLjpxNqOmr4CFWbItAod5y0A5w ]link[/url]

Wound Care / Burn / Blister
2 x. Bandage, Butterfly Closure
3 x After Cuts & Scrapes® Wipe
4 x Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2" x 2", Pkg./2
1 x Tape, 1/2" x 10 Yards
5 x Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1" x 3"
3 x Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle
1 x Moleskin, 2" x 2.5"
2 x Safety Pins

I stick a sheet of 400mg ibroprofen in there as well, and it jams into a small internal camelback pocket and it's light as anything. ABout 12 quid.

So for me the following comes with me every ride.

Painkillers - Ibuprofen, Paracetemol and Co-codamol.
Plasters - normal and compeed for blisters. Plastic skin is also pretty damn good too!
Antisceptic wipes.
Wound dressing.
Tape.
A couple of bandages.
Gloves.

To this, I also have paracord, a whistle, a foil survival bag, a Petzl light and a fire stick. 😀

Packs easily into a 1 litre Alpkit dry bag. Job done.

No triangle bandage for supporting a dislocated arm?

Why the safety pins, even St John's stopped using them?

Good question, I suppose I don't really need them! No, no triangular bandage in my kit, its too big and figured I could probably make something acceptable with duct tape or other bits (inner tube?)

I also carry a spare AA batteries for the GPS, leatherman wave, crank brother m19, park tools tyre levers, and an original Petzl e+lite (which comes with a whistle)

Have tweezers on my key ring, which also contains a few other useful bits

[i]broken bones - splint[/i]

Can I suggest that, unless you are a paramedic or some other highly trained professional you DO NOT attempt to splint a broken bone.

And you should't really be giving painkillers as First Aid either.

I take a small first aid kit when coaching kids, but its mainly for psychological value.

Did my first aid at work earlier this year. I've always carried plasters and a couple of sterile bandages in my camelbak, but I now also carry a couple of aspirin and a breathing thing for CPR. The last two items are the only things I carry on a road ride.

A mate found a rider collapsed at the side of the road over Easter but was too late to save him. Not sure what the cause of death was but the local papers are saying it is not suspicious. First Aid should be on the national curriculum, good courses are expensive but may one day be worth. The people you are most likely to have to use it on are your nearest and dearest.

Actually, the best first aid kit you can carry is a mobile phone.

If its properly serious, you'll want help as soon as possible!