What You Need for Self Supported Touring by Bicycle

  Equipment   Concerns   Considerations    Necessary Options
Concerns - Emergency        
There is absolutely no way you can prepare for every emergency and still get down the road. But there are things you can do to make emergencies more tolerable.

Information
  1. On a sheet of paper, record the following:
    • Who you are and where you live.
    • Names and phone numbers of people to contact if you are unable to speak for yourself
    • Medical conditions, including things you are alergic to.
    • Medical insurance information
    • Your doctors name and phone number
    • A short description of your trip
  2. On the other side, record an inventory of everything you started with.
  3. Make two legible copies of both sides of this form.
  4. One copy stays on your person
  5. The other copy stays with your equipment.
  6. You might leave a third copy at home.
  7. The original stays with the primary person to call in an emergency.
Things

  1. First Aid Kit
  2. Disposable, waterproof camera (if not carrying another camera)
  3. Paper and pencil
  4. Toilet paper and baby wipes
  5. Rope for a noose (in case things don't work out)
Knowledge and Skills

  1. Stopping bleeding is more important than cleaning a wound. Apply direct pressure.
  2. Don't try to move anyone, unless their life is in danger where they are. Don't risk causing further injury by moving a person - physical comfort is less important than making things worse. Leave the moving to the EMS experts.
  3. Staying calm helps you think about what to do. Yelling, crying, or getting mad only waste valuable time.
  4. Help everyone you can - even the one that may have caused the problem.
  5. Try to gather all the body parts and identify who they belong to.
Attitude

If you go riding your bike, two things can happen:
     You can ride safely, or get hit by a car or truck.

If you ride safely, you've got nothing to worry about.
If you get hit,you've got two things to worry about:
     Are you injured, or not injured?

If you're NOT injured, you've got nothing to worry about.
If you're injured, you've got two things to worry about:
     Are you going to live or die.

If you're going to live, you've got nothing to worry about.
If you're going to die, you've got two things to worry about:
     Are you going to Heaven or Hell.

If you're going to Heaven, you've got nothing to worry about.
If you're going to Hell, you'll be two busy talking to friends to worry.


Seriously, the world you will be riding in has a huge number of people ready to help a stranger in distress. The greater the distress, the greater the willingness to help.

Whatever your problem, you will get through it, and be better for it.