Got to use my kit last week. Went over the bars on a mountain bike trail and somehow my head protected my helmet. I was able to stop the bleeding long enough to get to the end of the trail and a ride to the emergency department.



I had difficulty stopping the bleeding taping some gauze to my head, I'd clean it then blood would get on the skin before I could tape the gauze on so the tape would just come off.

I remember reading about quickclot a while back and then reading somewhere that it wasn't popular anymore. Is it still a good thing to use?

Scalp wounds will bleed like a stuck pig. Direct pressure is best, assuming no underlying skull fracture. Using tape to bandage a dressing in place does not put hardly any pressure on the wound. You need Kerlix, Coban or something like that. Coban sticks to itself very well and would be my recommendation to stock in your kit. Encircling the head. Tape holds a dressing in place to keep things clean (or at least to keep them from getting dirtier). To actually apply pressure, you'd need to wrap that tape all the way around your head with a little gusto. Have fun getting that out of your hair later. Ouch!

Scalp wounds are by nature superficial. Your scalp just isn't very thick. I wouldn't think QuikClot would be all that necessary. They make gauze impregnated with the stuff, and that might not be a bad idea, held in place with some pressure by Kerlix, then overwrapped with Coban to keep everything in place.

I carry a larger pad or two for just this purpose

I'm glad you had a FAK and hope you're on the mend!

Direct pressure is the way to go. Don't waste time cleaning up initially - just stop the bleeding. Cosmetic concerns come later.

I have never had to use quick clot, even on an arm severed at the shoulder,but I have never dealt with serious gun shot wounds. I imagine tthat is where it is useful.

Thanks, I didn't think about wrapping all the way around, the roll of gauze would have had enough.
And yes, doing fine now, got the 7 (of 9) external stitches out last Friday. Hit the paved bike trail a couple times since, just haven't made it back to the MTB trail, but still getting some exercise.

Glad you are OK

I'm glad you're okay!

We did one of those tourist things a few years ago. Haul a mountain bike up a ski slope on the lift, then ride down. I'll tell you, it takes some skill to control a mountain bike in rough terrain (the Rocky Mountains). I have respect for those who do it regularly. When I got to the bottom of the mountain, I'm pretty sure they had to replace the brake pads on my rental bike! My fingers were in tetany from constant pulling on the brake levers. And there were others flying by us (literally, not figuratively) bouncing from rock to rock at about 90mph like a bunch of deranged rabbits.

We made the mistake of buying a minivan years ago. Every fall I had to replace the brake pads because we made several trips in the mountains of WV.

This is a mountain bike trail near me (Alum Creek State Park near Columbus OH). Its about 5 miles away and now there are bike trails between my house and there. This was the second time I rode there, then rode the trail, then rode back home. But this was after not riding for a few months over summer when it got too hot and humid and we had heat advisories nearly every day.
I think the day of my crash I didn't eat enough before as I've been trying to loose some of the covid weight I've put on. Also I forgot to blow air in my Camelbak bladder when I put it in the freezer so the hose port was laying down in the water and froze up resulting in me not getting any water until I got to the trail. And I tried fewer stops. So I bet I was a little fatigued.

I bought a better helmet and have ridden paved trails a couple times since I'm still exercising.

The rest of my gear worked well, everything was covered in blood and dirt (well bloody mud) so I had to clean everything and took the time to re-inventory early, I usually do that during the winter months.