What should be in a driver's first aid kit?

Price, composition and shelf life of a new car first aid kit

The composition of the 2019 car first aid kit has remained unchanged for the ninth year, but drivers who purchased the first aid kit immediately after the 2010 changes need to remember to replace it, because the expiration date is already expiring.

Let us remind you that a first aid kit in any car in our country must be present, otherwise the fine is 500 rubles . Moreover, such a punishment threatens the driver even if the first aid kit is not properly equipped, i.e., the necessary medical products, dressings are missing, or the expiration date of the latter is expired.

New composition of car first aid kits

Let's face it, the current requirements for the contents of a new first-aid kit, approved in 2010, have become much softer for the driver. Now, in accordance with the procedure established by law, he does not need to carry any cardiac drugs, painkillers, disinfectants, anti-diarrhea drugs, etc. and monitor the expiration date.

Let's look at what's included in the new standard kit below.

Medical experts rightly judged that heart patients always have all the necessary medications with them, pain relief leads to difficulties in establishing an accurate diagnosis when medical workers arrive at the scene of an accident, and disinfection of wounds is not the main task of first aid to victims.

Dressings instead of medicines

Thus, the main emphasis when compiling a new list regulating the contents of a car first aid kit was on hemostatic agents, because severe blood loss before the arrival of an ambulance is the main cause of death for victims of road accidents. Therefore, the first aid kit contains a fairly large list of various sizes of sterile and non-sterile bandages, adhesive plasters, tourniquets and other means.

Here is a complete list of what should be in a new car first aid kit:

One hemostatic tourniquet;
Two five-centimeter wide non-sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;
Two ten-centimeter wide non-sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;
One fourteen-centimeter non-sterile gauze bandage 7 m long;
Two seven-centimeter wide sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;
Two ten-centimeter wide sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;
One sterile fourteen-centimeter gauze bandage 7 m long;
One sterile dressing bag;
One package of gauze sterile medical wipes;
Germicidal adhesive plaster 4×10 cm – 2 pieces, and 1.9×7.2 cm – 10 pieces;
One roll of adhesive plaster 1×250 cm;
"Mouth-Device-Mouth" - a means for cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
Scissors, one pair of medical gloves, a case and recommendations for using a first aid kit.

The new car first aid kit does not include any tablets, ammonia or other medications . Of course, this does not mean that you, on your own initiative, cannot supplement it with drugs that may be useful on the road. It’s up to you to decide what medications to put in your first aid kit.

And some of the standard equipment that comes with, for example, FEST first aid kits, are far from ideal. So, when trying to cut thick clothing on a victim, the scissors from the first aid kit will bend. The tourniquet also does not stand up to criticism - it is so thin that even a bunch of several similar tourniquets will not be able to stop the bleeding from the thigh - they will simply break.

Video: Open the first aid kit and see what's inside

The price of a new first aid kit and the expiration date of its contents

However, the lack of expensive drugs has had a noticeable downward impact on how much a car first aid kit costs today. The average price is no more than 350 rubles. However, you shouldn’t chase cheapness either - if you see a first aid kit on sale for less than 300 rubles, then most likely its contents are counterfeit and do not meet sanitary standards.

The presence of almost only dressing materials, as well as adhesive plaster – the most “perishable” contents – made it possible to significantly increase the shelf life of a car first aid kit. From the previous year and a half, the period during which first aid equipment does not need to be replaced is now 4.5 years .

Undoubtedly, the old-style first aid kit was more functional - its contents made it possible to provide assistance to the victim not only with bleeding. However, there was no increase in the mortality rate in road accidents due to the absence of validol, analgin, corvalol, activated carbon or brilliant green in the first aid kit, since the drugs have absolutely nothing to do with providing first aid to victims.

Car first aid kit in 2019

Composition of a car first aid kit in 2019 according to GOST

The main emphasis when compiling a new list regulating the contents of a car first aid kit was on hemostatic agents. According to statistics, people often die from blood loss before the ambulance arrives. It is for this reason that the first aid kit contains a fairly large list of various sizes of sterile and non-sterile bandages, adhesive plasters, tourniquets and other means.

A complete list of what should be in a new car first aid kit:

1. One hemostatic tourniquet;

2. Two five-centimeter wide non-sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;

3. Two ten-centimeter wide non-sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;

4. One fourteen-centimeter non-sterile gauze bandage 7 m long;

5. Two seven-centimeter wide sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;

6. Two ten-centimeter wide sterile gauze bandages 5 m long;

7. One sterile fourteen-centimeter gauze bandage 7 m long;

8. One sterile dressing bag; One package of gauze sterile medical wipes;

9. Germicidal adhesive plaster 4×10 cm – 2 pieces, and 1.9×7.2 cm – 10 pieces;

10. One roll of adhesive plaster 1×250 cm;

11. “Mouth-Device-Mouth” - a means for cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

13. One pair of medical gloves;

15. Recommendations for using a first aid kit.

Previously, a car first aid kit had to carry heart medications, painkillers, disinfectants, remedies for diarrhea, allergies, etc. But now, in accordance with the procedure established by law, the driver does not need to take any pills, ammonia or other medications with him. But this does not mean that you, on your own initiative, cannot supplement your first aid kit with drugs that may be useful on the road. It’s up to you to decide what medications to put in your first aid kit. There are no restrictions, the main thing is that in addition to the medications you want, the first aid kit contains the mandatory medical items listed above.

According to the law of the Russian Federation, any non-prohibited drugs can be included in a medical travel case . You can put anything there, including painkillers, because a headache or toothache can seriously distract you from driving and reduce your alertness.

If you have a headache, Ibuprofen or Pentalgin will help out. They are often found in the car first aid kit because they are fast-acting. For toothache, Ketanov is an effective remedy.

An acute respiratory viral infection or the flu can take you by surprise even on the way home from work, and then you can take an antipyretic right in a traffic jam; for quick action, add medications containing paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Rennie, Almagel, Gastal and Phosphalugel help with heartburn. Emergency assistance for diarrhea on the road will be provided by Imodium, Smecta and Enterol.

For burns, you need to put Panthenol spray or ointment in your first aid kit. In the summer, the suitcase can be replenished with insect bite sprays, ointments and gels that treat the consequences of attacks by mosquitoes, bees, bedbugs, wasps, beetles and midges, including reducing allergic reactions.

It would be a good idea to put disinfectants in your first aid kit for treating wounds, which will come in handy even for a small cut on a picnic. Of course, the medical bag should contain medications necessary for chronic diseases of the car owner and his frequent passengers.

Composition of a car first aid kit

Purpose of a car first aid kit

The presence of this important household item for a car enthusiast guarantees a chance of survival in any, even the most difficult, extraordinary situation on the road. A road accident inevitably leads to injuries of various types. The composition of a car first aid kit allows you to minimize the consequences of a road accident.

The 2019 pharmacy kit is designed to combat the consequences of injury, and as a result of the incident - the elimination or temporary localization of blood loss. To do this, the kit contains everything you need and even more. In addition to means that can stop bleeding of various types, the first aid kit also contains a device that allows resuscitation measures. We are talking about the “Mouth-Device-Mouth” device, which allows you to deal with another common consequence of an accident - a heart attack.

Composition of a car first aid kit 2019

The 2019 kit is completed in accordance with the requirements of the Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The development and adjustment of the kit’s completeness pursued the following goals:

optimization of the list and quantity of components contained in the current first aid kit;

increasing the effectiveness of the kit when used in an emergency;

the possibility of increasing the shelf life of a first aid kit in specific conditions.

Today, the 2019 car first aid kit includes the following components:

Composition of a car first aid kit for 2019 - 2020

The presence and composition of a first aid kit in the car interior are established in our country at the legislative level. The owner of the vehicle is responsible for its formation and control of suitability.

What should be included in a car first aid kit?

The “correct” first aid kit contains:

rubber band;
5 units of bandage in sterile packaging (2 units each - bandage width 10 cm and 7 cm, 1 unit - width 14 cm);
5 units of bandage in regular packaging (2 units each - width 10 cm and 5 cm, 1 unit - width 14 cm);
1 dressing bag in sterile packaging;
1 package (sterile) of sanitary alcohol wipes measuring 14 x 16 cm (at least 10 wipes per package);
12 units of adhesive plaster with bactericidal properties (2 units of “wide”, measuring 10 x 4 cm or larger, 10 units of “narrow” measuring about 7 x 2 cm);
1 roll of “regular” adhesive plaster of any width at least 1 cm;
a device for performing artificial respiration using the mouth-to-mouth method;
medical or other scissors with blunt ends;
at least 1 pair of sanitary gloves (non-sterile).

Until 2010, this list also included painkillers and medications used to relieve acute heart pain. Now the first aid kit contains only dressings, means for primary resuscitation of the lungs (carrying out artificial respiration) and stopping bleeding.

New sample car first aid kits: composition

This year you need to use a “new style” first aid kit. Its composition was approved within the framework of Order No. 697 of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation, issued in 2009 and entered into force in 2010. The new composition has been simplified, because in a critical situation a person is not always able to respond adequately and use the necessary medications. It was decided that first aid provided by the driver should be limited to stopping bleeding, performing artificial respiration and dressing wounds.

The composition of the “new” car first aid kit differs from the previous one; all tablet medications have been removed from it. The number of compulsory subjects was reduced to 7:

bandages;
adhesive plasters;
tourniquet;
scissors;
napkins;
gloves;
mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration device.

In this case, there should be several different sizes of bandages and adhesive plasters.

The rules do not provide for the unconditional presence in the first aid kit of painkillers (analgin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin and others), drugs such as validol or nitroglycerin. However, on your own initiative, you can include any medications in the kit, including antidiarrheals, antiemetics and others, as well as:

hydrogen peroxide or other antiseptic;
eye drops - they are useful in case of eye injury, for example, when a foreign body gets into it;
a product for treating areas of the body affected by burns, for example, “Panthenol”.

“Heart patients” carry nitroglycerin or validol in the car, and those who often suffer from heartburn or stomach pain carry “Rennie”, “Gastal” and other similar medications. If the driver is prone to allergies or has chronic illnesses, he has the right to complete the first aid kit.

Expiration date of the first aid kit

The shelf life of a car first aid kit is 4.5 years, provided that it was not compiled by the driver, but is of factory origin. If it contains additional drugs, the car owner will have to independently monitor their suitability and update if necessary.

Note! The car owner is given 6 months to replace the pharmacy contents. Example: a factory-fitted first aid kit was released in January 2019, which means it can be used until the end of June 2023 and replaced with a new one no later than January 2024.

Rules for using the first aid kit

A first aid kit can be purchased ready-made; it is often completed personally by the car owner. The shape, dimensions and material of its case (hard plastic box or soft fabric or leather case) are not regulated - the driver chooses them at his own discretion.

The first aid kit must be located inside the car, in an accessible place. Most often it is placed near the rear window. However, in an emergency, access to the rear seats may be difficult or blocked. Therefore, it is optimal to store the first aid kit under the driver’s seat or in the back pocket of the case (if the size of the case allows it). It is forbidden to carry a first aid kit in the trunk - in the event of an accident, the car body can be seriously deformed, which will block the luggage compartment.

If the driver uses any component of the kit, he must replenish the first aid supply as soon as possible.

Fine for not having a first aid kit

The legislation of the Russian Federation prohibits traveling by car if there is no first aid kit of the established type in its interior. At the same time, its composition can be both expanded and minimally mandatory. In the latter case, the pharmacy kit must contain:

adhesive plasters of two types and gauze bandages in several variations of different sizes;
hemostatic tourniquet – 1 piece;
rubber or latex gloves;
blunt scissors;
sanitary napkins.

You can supplement the composition with a sterile dressing bag (1 piece is enough).

If the first aid kit is missing or not properly equipped, the driver will be fined by the traffic police in the amount of 500 rubles. Such punishment is regulated by Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

Note! The law prohibits traffic police officers from stopping vehicles solely for the purpose of checking the presence of a first aid kit and its contents. However, this item may only be asked to be presented “in passing” if the car was stopped for some other reason.

What should be in a car's first aid kit

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A car first aid kit is one of the most important elements of a car’s equipment. It is for this reason that its composition is officially approved by the law of the Russian Federation, and its non-compliance with the standards entails administrative punishment (fine).

Why do you need a first aid kit for a car?

The main purpose is the ability to provide first aid to victims of an accident before the ambulance crew arrives, and not just for demonstration to traffic police officers. Based on this, doctors determine a list of medicines that must be available in the car.

In addition, without a first aid kit, you simply will not be able to undergo an annual technical inspection. Moreover, if its equipment does not meet the established standards, you will not be given documents confirming that you have passed a state technical inspection, even if the car is in full working order.

Therefore, you should not neglect the requirements of the law regarding the availability and configuration of a first aid kit - responsibility for this lies with the driver of the vehicle.

Requirements according to the law of the Russian Federation

Legislative documents define:

full composition;
regularity of its updating and replacement;
the degree of administrative liability for violation of the requirements for its configuration.

IMPORTANT: the presence of first aid kits in cars arriving from other countries is also stipulated - it is the kit approved by the legislation of the Russian Federation that must be in such vehicles.

Why did the lineup change?

The composition of first aid kits is constantly being reviewed, and this is not a whim of the legislative bodies - the Ministry of Health is trying to take into account all the nuances as much as possible and equip them with the most necessary medicines.

There are a number of objective reasons why the composition of a first aid kit for a car has changed:

Some medications were deemed irrelevant. For example, heart patients always have all the necessary supplies with them in any case, so the presence of heart medications in the first aid kit has become optional.
It was decided to exclude painkillers from the mandatory list. The reason is that anesthetics, even simple ones such as analgin, can complicate the diagnosis after the arrival of an ambulance.
Almost all medications (including commonly used ones such as aspirin, analgin, valerian) can cause allergic reactions. Not only will they not bring benefit to a person with allergies, but they can also significantly worsen his condition, and since in an emergency it is not always possible to find out about intolerance to certain medications, it is better to minimize their use in the car.
In a car environment, it is very rarely possible to ensure proper storage conditions for medications - temperature conditions (too hot in summer, too cold in winter), humidity, etc. As a result, the chemical composition of the drugs changes, and they lose their benefits and even become hazardous to health.

Penalties

The Code of Administrative Offenses defines financial liability for non-compliance with the legislation regarding car first aid kits.

True, the first time a driver who does not take care of availability or equipment risks receiving a verbal warning, but for repeated violations he is guaranteed a fine of 500 rubles.

Composition of a car first aid kit according to GOST of the Russian Federation

According to state standards in force in the Russian Federation, a car driving on the roads of the Russian Federation (regardless of which country it is registered in) must be equipped with an emergency sign, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in case of unforeseen emergencies and road accidents.

What must be required

The list of required components of a first aid kit for a car in Russia includes: