Riding a bicycle is a great way to exercise your body, plus you get to enjoy the outdoor weather while traveling through Texas neighborhoods. Unfortunately, some drivers fail to watch for bikes, and one might hit you, flinging you onto the ground and possibly causing a road rash.
Road rash can be a painful condition. It happens when your skin scrapes across a solid surface, likely concrete or a dirty ground if you become involved in a bike accident. Fortunately, doctors can treat road rash, but you should make sure not to let your injury sit for too long.
Prevent dangerous bleeding
First, you want to make sure your road rash is not too deep. Some wounds cause bleeding that might endanger your life, or they may have penetrated far enough to harm nerves, muscles or an organ. In such a case, you will likely need the help of emergency responders, particularly if your injury makes it difficult to move and seek aid.
Ensure cleaning of your wound
People who suffer road rashes can accumulate dirt, glass or other debris in the wound. A road rash exposes your body to dangerous pathogens that might infect your body through foreign objects. Even if you attempt to clean your wound yourself, you might not get all the debris out.
A number of symptoms could warn you of an infection. Your wound might smell strange, fail to heal or secrete puss. You could notice red inflammation encircling the injury. Some road rash patients also experience fevers and swollen glands. If not treated, an infection can lead to a septic shock, which is deadly.
Through timely medical attention, you could prevent the worst possible scenario from happening if you suffer an accident from an irresponsible party. You may even speed up your recovery period and your time to return to bike riding.