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When motorcyclists skid across the ground in motorcycle accidents, they will often suffer from road rash injuries. While road rash doesn’t sound as serious as a head injury, road rash can be very serious. Unfortunately, bikers have the misconception that road rash is just an abrasion or a minor injury, and that they don’t need medical treatment.
Here’s why medical treatment is critical after a motorcycle crash that causes road rash:
- Staph infections could develop.
- MRSA, a skin-eating disease, could result.
- Pneumonia could come about.
- Bloodstream infections could occur.
How Road Rash Leads to a Staph Infection
There are different levels of road rash just like burn injuries. If the skin is intact and just red without blood, bikers typically can get the area cleaned and should be safe. However, if the skin is broken and bleeding or if the skin is totally scraped away and you can see layers of tissue, muscles or fat, the road rash injury is considered serious. In fact, it is so serious that injured motorcyclists should head straight for the ER.
If the skin isbleeding or scraped away, a biker could be vulnerable to getting a staph infection. One type of staph bacteria that can occur after road rash is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This skin-eating disease can be life-threatening. While some road rash injuries are minor, those that include blood and exposed skin may lead to the following:
- MRSA
- Skin grafts
- Cosmetic surgery
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- Tissue damage
- Rehabilitation
- Long recovery
When skin is scraped away, road debris, gravel, and broken glass from the accident can get embedded in the skin or enter the body. When this happens, it can increase a motorcyclist’s risk for developing a serious infection. Road rash is nothing to ignore, especially because of the risk of MRSA.
Because many riders don’t know about MRSA or know what signs to look for, MRSA is often overlooked until it is too late. If you ride or know someone who rides a motorcycle, learn about the signs of a serious MRSA infection, including:
- Rash
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headache
- Sore muscles
- Fatigue
- Breathing difficulties
By knowing about the signs and symptoms of MRSA, it can help you save your life or the life of someone else. Please pass this information to others you know who ride in order to help save a life.