When you think of First Aid, it’s easy to think of a bike in a million pieces, the rider in a ditch and general pandemonium. But on the thousands of miles and probably two-hundred-plus rideouts I’ve done, I’ve only ever been on the scene of a big accident a few times.
In those situations, an underseat first aid kit isn’t going to be of much use. A charged-up mobile phone is vital, so you can call the emergency services. Followed by a basic understanding of the process of treating a casualty – this knowledge is a very useful string to your bow.
So it goes without saying, the times I’ve required a first aid kit haven’t been those big incidents. I’ve used my first aid kit when I was stung by a wasp and when I burnt my thumb on an MV Agusta exhaust (damn those underseat pipes!).
If you’re going touring, a First Aid kit is an excellent addition to your packing list. In fact in a majority of European countries it’s a legal requirement to carry one.
They needn’t be bulky and should be able to fit under most seats – although, on some sportsbikes, finding a tiny amount of free space can be a challenge.
They’re not expensive either, at under a tenner, you’d be mad not to grab one.
Amazon’s top-rated first aid kit
This kit contains 92 different items in a pack that is about the size of a VHS tape (remember them?). The kit contains: Triangular Bandage, PBT Conforming Bandage, Sterile Gauze Pad, Latex Tourniquet, Nonwoven Position Tape, Scissors, Plastic Tweezers, Emergency Blanket, CPR Face Mask, Alcohol Prep Pad, Plastic Adhesive Bandages, Cotton Swabs, First Aid Guide, Security Whistle, Disposable gloves, Safety pin, Eyewash.
Quality first aid kit, designed for bikers
The QBag first aid kit contains everything you’d need for minor bumps and scrapes. It includes: Adhesive plasters, first-aid dressings, compression bandages, Medium metallised polyester foil blanket, sterile gauze, first-aid scissors, Disposable gloves and a First-aid guide.
The cheapest first aid kit
There are countless First Aid kits on the market and the cheapest we could find was this one which is amazingly under two-quid. We haven’t tried it but it actually looks pretty good – it contains a handful of plasters, some alcoholic wipes, gauze, some tape and a pair of scissors.
However, I’d rather have a kit that I can rely on. I’m not convinced those plasters or that tape will stand up to the rigours of ‘being attached to a biker’.
For around a fiver, this first aid kit is a good option, it looks to include fewer but higher-quality items. The only thing that’s missing is a pair of scissors but the bag itself is large enough to stuff in some extras, like paracetamol, hayfever tablets, insect-bite cream and of course, scissors.
Get First Aid trained
A first aid kit is a great start but having a solid understanding of what to do in the event of an accident is even better.
There’s an initiative called First Bike On Scene which is a long-standing training course designed for bikers. Just Google for FBOS to find a course in your area. Expect to pay around £85 for the course which lasts a day.
The training will stick with you for life – you never know when you might need it.
Other good first aid kits
We’ve scoured the user reviews to find these other good buys.
LifeSystems Pocket First Aid Kit
Cartrend Motorcycle First Aid Kit
Sources
Thanks to the following websites which helped us research and write this motorcycle first aid kit guide:
torrensvalley.ulyssesclub.org/First-Aid-For-Motorcyclists.pdf
