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I was cycling down a tough singletrack mountain bike trail near Crested Butte,
Colorado with my friend Skip Hamilton. Skip is a legendary endurance athlete who
is skilled going downhill frighteningly fast. Suffering from momentary delusions
of grandeur, I tried to stay with him on the twisty trail. My front wheel washed
out on a loose corner and—boom—I was on the ground.
I straightened my handlebars, picked some gravel out of my elbow and continued
down the trail, this time at a safe and sane pace. But later I began thinking—what
if Skip had fallen and been hurt badly? He knew first aid and could have helped
me—but what if the situation had been reversed? It was a wake-up call. Of course,
running, cycling, and walking aren’t inherently dangerous activities. But as I
found out, accidents can happen quickly and it’s best to be prepared.
Here’s how:
Prevention
If you’re cycling, wear a helmet and obey traffic laws. On difficult mountain bike
trails, know your limits and if a section is too tough, get off and walk. When
running or riding in hot weather, take plenty of water so you don’t fall victim
to heat illnesses. And check your equipment. Tires with cracked sidewalls, badly
adjusted brakes, trail running shoes whose soles are worn bald—all are recipes
for disaster but require only a minute to check before a ride or run.
Knowledge is power
Take a first-aid class. It’s impossible to list all the accidents and emergencies
you might encounter but if an accident occurs, a good first-aid course equips
you to limit the damage and stabilize your friend until help arrives. If you do
much backcountry hiking or mountain biking, you might consider a Wilderness First
Responder course, available at many ski resorts. At the very least, read a good
first aid book to brush up on the basics. Try Sport First Aid, $20 (Human
Kinetics, (800) 747-4457; And don’t
forget to carry a small first aid kit. They usually include instructions and are widely available
at bike shops or outdoor stores.
Communicate
With some injuries, time is of the essence. Severe bleeding, spinal and head
injuries, open fractures—all require medical attention quickly. For that reason,
many recreational athletes traveling off the beaten path routinely carry a cell
phone to summon help. Many models can be conveniently stowed in your lumbar pack
or strapped under your bike seat. And if your outing is uneventful, you can always
call ahead for pizza.
Friends
Solo wilderness jaunts have great appeal. When you travel alone, you can go at
your own pace, stopping when and where you want. But if you get hurt, you’re on
your own until help comes. That’s a reason to adopt the buddy system. In real
wilderness, three people is the minimum group size—one person can stay with the
victim while the third goes for help.
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