First Aid

A common saying in the cycling world is "It's not if you're going to crash, but when." Crashing is just part of cycling. Experience, skill and some luck can certainly help cyclists avoid crashes, but at some point, if you're riding your bike, you're going to crash. And when you do you are going to get road rash, abrasions from falling off your bike and making contact with the pavement or some other surface.

There is a general lack of first aid, injury recognition and management knowledge among high
school and youth coaches, with some youth sports programs lacking even a basic emergency
medical plan.

No youth sports team or competition should be without a first aid kit designed to treat the most common injuries and illnesses that might be encountered.

Instant or chemical cold or gel packs are among the items that most experts say should be included in a well-stocked first aid kit. But, while instant cold or gel packs are easy to store and are more convenient than ice, experts say that they may damage the skin because of the cold temperatures they reach.

The first four steps of first aid for sports injuries to joints such (elbow, ankle, knee, finger, wrist sprains) are known by the acronym "RICE," which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.