| Road rash is a colloquial term used by many people to | | | | there is skin hanging off that needs to be trimmed or |
| describe or to refer to skin and bone injuries that are | | | | there is a cut that needs to be stitched up. If a person |
| caused be abrasion. In the majority of cases, the | | | | cannot place his or her own full weight on an injured |
| abrasion injuries are due to contact with road surfaces. | | | | leg or does not have full range of motion in a joint, a |
| The injuries are most frequently a consequence of | | | | bone could be broken or chipped and it's a good idea |
| cycling and motorcycling accidents. The term is applied | | | | to see a doctor. |
| to either a fresh or recent injury or the scar tissue left | | | | Degrees |
| by an old one. Other uses of the term include injuries | | | | Like burns, road rash is graded as being either first |
| that are caused by longboarding, skateboarding, and | | | | degree, second degree, or third degree. First degree |
| inline abrasion accidents, particularly those that | | | | road rash only affects the top layer of skin. The |
| occurred at a high speed. Longboarding injuries are | | | | surface is red but there isn't a whole lot of damage to |
| most frequently caused at high speeds. | | | | the skin on the whole. Second degree road rash |
| Preventing Road Rash | | | | breaks the first layer of skin but does not damage the |
| One of the best ways to prevent road rash is by | | | | lower layers of skin. This allows the skin to retain the |
| learning proper bike handling skills in an effort to | | | | ability to heal itself and fix the problem. Third degree |
| prevent falling. Another way to prevent road rash is | | | | road rash is the most severe. All layers of skin are |
| through obeying all rules of the road and wearing | | | | removed and reveal fat and other supportive tissues |
| effective clothing. Clothes will not prevent the injury | | | | underneath. This level of damage requires medical |
| completely, but they will lessen the degree of the | | | | attention immediately and could require skin grafts. The |
| injuries. | | | | skin is unable to repair itself. |
| Medical Treatment | | | | The main goal of any treatment is to repair the skin |
| Some cases of road rash require medical treatment. | | | | and prevent infection. Treatment aims to heal the |
| The emergency room is necessary if an injury has | | | | injuries as quickly as possible. It is also meant to reduce |
| scraped through skin to the point that bone or other | | | | the risk of further complications, like infections. |
| tissues are visible. Medical attention is necessary if | | | | |