Include a first aid kit among your essential motorcycle riding gear

Riding a motorcycle is a thrilling outdoor adventure that takes you to new places and introduces you to new friends. Adventure sports benefit from preparation and good gear, which together goes a long way toward improving our experiences. For motorcycle rides, preparations begin with pre-ride inspections, wearing quality safety gear, and packing some essentials.

A common reality of adventuring is that we often experience some little bumps and bruises along the way. A good first aid kit designed to handle these occurrences is part of the gear you’ll really appreciate having when you need it.

Mission appropriate

Perhaps the most critical component in selecting a first aid kit is defining what type of situations you want it to handle. On-road versus off-road riding present different scenarios, as does urban versus remote rural riding. Consider some possibilities that might require first aid, but this is really an exercise in expecting the unexpected:

• Minor cuts to fingertips and knuckles
• Major cuts
• Scrapes
• Splinters
• Sprains
• Burns
• Sunburn
• Bee stings
• Foreign objects in eye

Sized to travel

As you know, motorcycles tend to have limited storage space. Fortunately, there are a multitude of quality first aid kits on the market geared toward outdoor enthusiasts. Some feature waterproof packaging, which is an important feature for motorcycles. First aid kits designed for mountain biking or hiking can be a great starting point. However, it’s likely you’ll need to add a few extra items to round out the kit to fit your personal needs.

A great feature to look for is emergency care instructions. Some first aid kits have valuable information guides. First aid requires more than stuff—it starts with knowing what to do and what not to do.

Knowledge is power

The best-stocked first aid kit is useless if you don’t have the knowledge to use it. Courses in basic and advanced first aid are available from organizations such as the Red Cross. Both classroom and online options are available. Just like when taking a rider education class, the more knowledge the better. This includes understanding what first aid is meant to achieve and knowing its limits.

Call the professionals

A good first aid kit and proper training can manage the little stuff that happens along the roads we travel. However, many situations require professional care, and the best first step is to call for help. Be prepared when travelling with first aid knowledge and gear. And know your limits.

Till next time, ride safe!

Related links

If you enjoyed this piece on the theft prevention tips, you might also enjoy other motorcycle safety tips we have featured in our Safety section.

At Dairyland, we feel strongly about your safety and promote it through our Rider Training Course discount. Check it out.