How to Treat Minor Bruising & Scarring after a Motorcycle Mishap?

Minor bruising and scratching are a part and parcel of riding two-wheelers! If you ride a motorcycle, or any other two-wheeler for that matter, you can be sure that sooner or later you will be involved in a mishap that will lead to minor bruising and scarring. Although there isn't much you can do to avoid the possibility of injuries completely, you can definitely become more proficient with riding a motorcycle safely and wear a branded motorcycle helmet along with other safety gears to avoid major injuries. For all the minor bruises and scars, here is everything you need to know about treating them.

1. Check for the extent of injury:

The first thing that you need to do is get out of the traffic as safely as possible or flag down another motorist to help you in getting out of the way of oncoming vehicular traffic. As soon as you reach the side of the road, gently take off the motorcycle helmet, and do a thorough check for the extent of your injuries. Your motorcycle is not the first priority at this point of time. Let it be where it is and focus on your injuries. The rush of adrenaline can cloak the pain and prevent you from understanding the extent of the injury, so do not be ignorant of the fact that there could be an injury that you have not detected yet. 

2. Stop the bleeding

If you observe bleeding, put pressure on it using a handkerchief or any other clean cotton cloth. Get in touch with the local ambulance services and if that is not possible, ask a fellow motorist to arrange for a cab so that you can reach a hospital as soon as possible. If that is not possible either, keep calm and try to find a mode of transportation so that you can arrive at a hospital. It is always a good idea to keep emergency contact numbers on your mobile phone for such emergency conditions.

3. Wash with an antibiotic solution

If the injury is not too severe, and you do not need the professional service offer medical practitioner, was the injury with an antibiotic solution. Try not to touch the injury with your bare hands before washing your hands with soap first. If you are not able to do it yourself, ask a family member or a friend to wash the injury with an antibiotic solution.

4. Dress the wound

finally, dress the wound with cotton gauze, or with any clean cotton cloth that you can find. Keeping the injury exposed to the environment can lead to further infection which is something you don't want. Always carry an antibiotic solution, an antibiotic cream, cotton gauze, and a painkiller in the first safety box in your motorcycle luggage boxes.

5. Visit a doctor

if you feel the need to consult a doctor to understand the extent of your injury or for further medical attention, do not delay a visit to your nearest medical practitioner. Explain the circumstances of the injury as well as your experiences caused by the injury so that the doctor can prescribe X-Ray investigations and medications as necessary.

First Aid Tips

Always be prepared for emergency conditions by preparing a first aid box which you can easily carry in your backpack, or in one of them motorcycle luggage boxes on your motorcycle.  

• Never compromise with your safety: Always use a premium branded motorcycle helmet to stay protected on the road. In addition to a helmet, you are also going to need a motorcycle riding jacket, boots and gloves to cover the entire body against the possibility of an injury.
• Carry a first aid kit : The first aid kit must include an antibiotic solution towards injuries, an antibiotic cream to apply afterwards, a few band-aids, a roll of cotton gauze, a few painkillers, and a hand sanitizer in addition to other medicines that you think are necessary to treat an injury.
• Wash hands before touching injury if possible: Whenever possible, try to avoid touching the injury with your bare hands because it may be contaminated with bacteria and other pathogens which can lead to further complications and infections. Wash your hand with soap, or at least sanitize it with a hand sanitizer before touching the exposed skin.  
• Get out of the traffic: A sudden accident can put you in a state of daze and confusion, so try to gather your senses and get out of the traffic safely. Reach the side of the road as safely as possible. Do not make the mistake of thinking that other motorists can spot you lying on the road, so raise your hand and try to make yourself as visible as possible and don't run haphazardly to the side of the road if there are other lanes to cross in between.