How to Treat Road Rash from Motorcycle Accidents
According to a common belief, there are two different types of riders: those who have fallen and those who haven’t. Road rash is perhaps the most frequent injury following a motorcycle collision, even a small one, whether you think it or not.
There were just over 20,400 cases of road rash documented in 2013, according to the most current data from the National Trauma Data Bank for motorcycle injuries. Over 17,000 were treated for minor injuries, 2,000 required hospitalization or intensive rehabilitation, and 400 were fatalities.
The majority of the patients (89%) were men, and the average age was 40.
Describe road rash. The name pretty much speaks for itself. Your skin is hurt when you fall at a certain speed. To elaborate a little bit further while avoiding confusing medical jargon, road rash is a disturbance in the top layer of skin brought on by a shearing force that causes friction. The resulting injury can take many different forms and have a wide range of severity. This depends on a number of variables, including the ground you fell on, your speed, and the degree of personal protection equipment (PPE) you were wearing.
Shop your motorcycle gear here: Revzilla
Road rash first aid
The obvious advice is to visit a doctor to have your injury (or injuries) evaluated so they can be appropriately handled. If you have further injuries, such as severe bleeding, breathing problems, or if you struck your head, you should call an ambulance right once.
However, certain fundamental wound treatment techniques might be beneficial if you find yourself in a scenario where you have now joined the “fallen” club and your injuries are only minor road rash. The same is true if you can’t or won’t visit a doctor right away (perhaps because you’re off-roading in a distant place) (maybe you have a possibly unhealthy passion for DIY, including medical care).
Shop your motorcycle gear here: Revzilla
The first step in handling any accident scene is to find a safe place to be. If there are no significant wounds, this refers to you first, followed by your bike. I know you love your machine, but you can’t love it if you’re not alive. If at all feasible, relocate your bike first, then get yourself to a safe place where you are visible and off the road.
The second step entails inspecting the wound, either by yourself or someone else. Please exercise common sense and get to a hospital emergency room if the cut is deep and not simply superficial abrasions, if you’ve lost sensation in the region, if something is hanging off someplace, or if it is bleeding profusely. Additionally, you require expert medical care if you worry that if it heals poorly (head, eyes, hands, or other private areas), you won’t be as attractive.
Shop your motorcycle gear here: Revzilla
Step three, cleansing the wound is necessary if it does not reach those degrees of severity. With warm soapy water, properly clean the wound. Believe you’re finished? Again, clean it. It is not clean enough if there is still dirt present. If necessary, use a sponge or washcloth to remove it completely. The antagonist in the narrative with the wounds is a potential source of infection if anything is left inside. You’ll need to have your doctor clean it if you can’t fully clean it on your own.
The fourth step entails re-examining the wound. If bleeding is present, apply pressure for up to 20 minutes with a clean towel or bandage. Get medical help if bleeding continues after 20 minutes or if a post-cleaning check indicates the incision is deeper than you initially thought.
Shop your motorcycle gear here: Revzilla
The fifth and last step is to treat the wound and maintain it clean. The most crucial factor for effective recovery is keeping it clean. Put a bandage of the proper size on it if you need to cover it to keep it clean. If it will get dirty, don’t leave it “exposed to the air.” We often advise using petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment if you wish to apply any form of medicinal treatment to the area. Studies don’t necessarily indicate that one is superior than the other, but we do know that wounds want to maintain moisture, which is why these products may be great. Put that stuff on thick. Until the wound has healed, you can apply this dressing several times daily.
To keep it clean and healing, repeat the previous steps as necessary. Keep your hands off the scab; it is healthy healing tissue that will prevent infection and unsightly scars. One other thing to think about: You could also require a tetanus vaccine if you haven’t had one in recent years.
When do I need to worry?
What should you be on the lookout for when the wound heals? The four nasty wound characteristics are redness, drainage, heat, and pain. Seek medical help if any of these issues arise.
- Spreading redness, bleeding that is not under control (blood is also red)
- Drainage: blood and foul-smelling pus (also drainage)
- If the wound feels worse and hotter or if you develop a fever
- Pain: it obviously hurts at first, but after a day or so, it should start to feel better.
Variations in Road Rash
Road rash injuries have three degrees, or levels. From least severe to most severe, these levels are:
First-degree: Road rash caused by a motorbike collision often consists of scrapes, minor bleeding, bruises, and redness. Most wounded people may manage first-degree road rash at home after seeking medical care.
Second-degree: Road rash of the second degree occurs when the skin is broken by the abrasion. Although you may be able to see the underlying layers of skin, they are still present. Debris like dirt, gravel, or glass may get stuck in the incision and leave a lasting scar.
Third-degree: Third-degree road rash exposes muscles, tendons, nerves, and even bone due to deep lesions and severe abrasions. The person should seek immediate medical attention since there may be severe bleeding and a possibility of infection.
Consequences of Road Rash
You could feel fortunate to have survived a motorbike accident and not be concerned about minor injuries. However, even a minor instance of bike rash following a motorbike accident may result in health problems and consequences like:
- Infection – Although your skin may be red due to inflammation, if it starts to spread, you may have an infection. You need to contact a doctor so they can give you antibiotics if you have swelling, fever, a bad odor, the formation of pus, or any of these symptoms.
- a severe pain
- enduring scars
After a motorbike accident, if any of the following occur, you should get medical help right once to prevent the emergence of these complications:
- Large item stuck in the wound
- Road rash has spread over a considerable surface area (such as an entire limb)
- Bleeding from a road rash wound won’t stop
- Bone or muscle is discernible.
The emotional repercussions of road rash
Road rash can nevertheless cause agony and leave lifelong scars, even though it is in some respects less dangerous than other possible motorcycle injuries including traumatic brain damage or spinal cord injury. A person’s attitude and confidence may suffer as a result of a changed appearance. Road rash scars and deformity may result in emotional and psychological pain that goes well beyond the superficial.
Road rash scars, for instance, have been linked to:
Depression: The degree of scarring and psychological health do not simply correlate. Even very little scars can have an impact on a person’s self-esteem and quality of life. It could result in clinical depression in some circumstances.
Anxiety and stress: Some accident victims experience the anguish of the event all over again each time they look in the mirror. Many victims are also troubled by how they look and how people react to them.
ongoing discomfort and suffering In particular, if the event resulted in soft tissue injury or face bone fractures, victims may require cosmetic surgery. Additional surgeries bring continuous discomfort.
Social isolation: Scarring on the face can have an impact on interpersonal interactions and other social activities. Scarring on the face can be career-ending for those whose livelihoods depend on their appearance, such performers and models.
Ways to Avoid Road Rash
To assist avoid or lessen injuries, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) advises that all motorcyclists wear correctly fitting protection gear. Because it’s warmer outside in the spring and summer, motorcycle riders frequently dress in lighter gear, leaving more skin vulnerable to the risks of road rash. A helmet that conforms with government rules is the most crucial component of motorcycle safety gear.
Four approaches exist for helmets to keep motorcyclists’ heads safe:
- A rider’s head is shielded from projectile penetration by the outer shell.
- Should it contact the pavement, the shell also shields the skull from scratches.
- The helmet’s lining includes shock-absorbent properties that allow it to progressively collapse after absorbing the impact of a crash.
- The foam lining keeps the helmet tightly on the head while maintaining comfort.
Florida law exempts drivers of motorcycles over the age of 21 from wearing helmets if they have medical insurance coverage of at least $10,000. However, motorcycle riders in Florida are always required to wear eye protection. Even though wearing a helmet while operating a motorbike may not be required by law, doing so is good for your health and might help you win a lawsuit if you have an accident. It shows that you value your safety.
Additional Motorcycle Safety Gear You Can Wear
The following motorcycle safety gear is advised:
face shields that screen the wearer from the sun during the day and the glare of nighttime vehicle lights. A rider’s face is shielded from the wind, flying debris, and insects with a face shield.
The hands of a cyclist are shielded from the sun, wind, and cold as well as abrasions in the case of an accident by gloves.
Clothing like jackets, trousers, and other similar items shield a rider’s body from the weather while also reducing the severity of road rash injuries. Motorcycle-specific jackets are often constructed of leather or specialist man-made materials like Cordura or Kevlar, and they frequently include extra padding in important body locations like the elbow.
Motorcycle-specific boots often include an upper that extends over the ankle, built-in ankle protection, and oil-resistant bottoms for a secure footing.
Noise from engines and winds can eventually harm motorcyclists’ hearing. Foam earplugs and noise-cancelling earphones can shield riders’ ears from wind and engine noise while also obstructing necessary noises.
Read our best motorcycle gears below:
Shop your motorcycle gear here: Revzilla
2023 best motorcycle & atv gloves review
2023 best motorcycle & atv boots review
2023 best motorcycle & atv jackets review
We all make errors, and accidents and injuries can occur for no apparent reason. Wearing personal protection equipment is the best defense against developing road rash and the painful procedure of treating it. The proverb “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is one that my father frequently recited to me, and he wasn’t mistaken. Prevention also involves less discomfort.
