What Should Be in a Car First-Aid Kit and How to Provide First Aid in a Road Accident?

What medications and supplies must be included in a car first-aid kit? What should you add to be prepared for emergencies? How should you act in case of an accident and provide first aid? Plus, the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation – we cover all of this in our article.

 

Why a car first-aid kit is not just a formality?

 

A car provides freedom and comfort during travel, but it also comes with the risk of unexpected situations on the road. In critical cases, timely first aid can save health and even lives. Sometimes, the availability of essential medical supplies – such as a tourniquet to stop bleeding or a bandage to support an injured limb – determines whether a victim’s condition can be stabilized before medical professionals arrive.

 

A car first-aid kit is a mandatory set of medical supplies that allows for first aid even before emergency responders arrive. If it is missing, it not only poses a threat in an emergency but also violates traffic regulations. Such a violation is subject to a fine of 340 UAH (as of 2025).

 

Contents of a car first-aid kit in Ukraine

 

You can purchase a ready-made kit at a pharmacy, and its contents are regulated by the Ukrainian standard DSTU 3961-2000 "Automobile Medical First-Aid Kit" . According to the order of the Ministry of Economic Development No. 622 dated 11.06.2013, every car first-aid kit must include:

 

- tools for stopping bleeding (tourniquet, sterile bandages, hemostatic wipes);

- medical materials for wound treatment and bandaging (antiseptics, plasters, gauze wipes);

- a set for providing first aid in case of injuries (elastic bandage, thermal blanket, scissors).

 

 

In addition to the standard contents, a car first-aid kit should include personal items – painkillers, anti-allergic medications, and additional tools that may be needed in unforeseen situations.

 

What should be in a Type №1 driver’s first-aid kit for passenger cars?

 

A Type №1 car first-aid kit is a must-have for every driver: a mandatory set of medical supplies that can save lives in case of an accident or injury. It contains two key sets: supplies for stopping bleeding and a kit for providing assistance in other injuries.

 

Set №1: Bleeding Control Supplies

 

🔹 Tourniquet for bleeding control – 1 pc.

 

🔹 Bandages:

- Elastic bandage (5 m x 10 cm) – 1 pc.

- Sterile gauze bandage (5 m x 10 cm) – 2 pcs.

- Sterile gauze bandage (7 m x 14 cm) – 1 pc.

- Non-sterile gauze bandage (5 m x 5 cm) – 1 pc.

- Non-sterile gauze bandage (7 m x 14 cm) – 1 pc.

 

🔹 Wipes:

- With chlorhexidine (6 cm x 10 cm) – 2 pcs. or antimicrobial gel-based strips (10 cm x 50 cm) – 2 pcs.

- Hemostatic wipes with furagin (6 cm x 10 cm) – 2 pcs.

- Sterile wipes (6 cm x 10 cm) – 6 pcs.

 

🔹 Additional supplies:

- Sterile dressing pack – 1 pc.

- Paramedic scissors – 1 pc.

- Medical triangular bandage (50 cm x 50 cm) – 1 pc.

- Gel dressing for burns – 1 pc.

 

Set №2: Supplies for Other Injuries

 

🩺 Resuscitation and protection supplies:

- Rescue breathing film (valve) – 1 pc.

- Medical gloves №8 (polyethylene) – 1 pair.

 

🔥 Hypothermia protection supplies:

- Thermal blanket (160 cm x 210 cm) – 1 pc.

 

🔧 Additional tools:

- Medical tweezers – 1 pc.

- Safety pins – 2 pcs.

 

 

Car First-Aid Kit in the EU According to DIN First Aid Kit Standard

 

In European Union countries, the DIN 13164 standard applies. A car first-aid kit according to the Euro standard must include:

 

🔹 Various types of plasters:

- Narrow adhesive tape (5 m x 2.5 cm)

- Wide plasters (10 cm x 6 cm) – 4 pcs.

- Waterproof finger plasters – 2 pcs.

- Plasters (12 cm x 2 cm) – 2 pcs.

- Gauze strips (1.9 cm x 7.2 cm) – 2 pcs.

- Gauze strips (2.5 cm x 7.2 cm) – 4 pcs.

 

🔹 Bandages and dressings:

- Pressure bandage DIN 13151 K – 1 pc.

- Pressure bandages DIN 13151 M – 2 pcs.

- Pressure bandage DIN 13151 G – 1 pc.

- Bandage dressing DIN 13152 BR (40 cm x 60 cm) – 1 pc.

- Bandage dressing DIN 13152 A (60 cm x 80 cm) – 1 pc.

- Fixation dressings DIN 61634 FB (6 x 6 cm) – 2 pcs.

- Fixation dressings DIN 61634-FB (8 x 8 cm) – 3 pcs.

- Wound compresses (10 x 10 cm) – 6 pcs.

 

🔹 Additional supplies:

- Rescue blanket (160 cm x 210 cm) – 1 pc.

- Triangular bandages DIN 13168-D – 2 pcs.

- Medical scissors DIN 58279-A 145 – 1 pc.

- Disposable medical gloves DIN EN 455 – 4 pcs.

- Skin cleansing wipes – 2 pcs.

- First aid instruction booklet – 1 pc.

- First-aid kit content list – 1 pc.

 

What else can be added to the first-aid kit?

 

Useful additional supplies:

- Thermometer – for monitoring body temperature;

- Tweezers – for removing small objects from wounds;

- Tick removal tool – especially useful for trips outside the city;

- Antiseptics and wound care products – to prevent infections;

- Repellents and sunscreen – useful for long journeys.

 

 

Action Algorithm in Case of an Accident

 

If a traffic accident occurs, it is important to act quickly and confidently. We recommend starting with:

 

1. Assess the Situation and Ensure Safety

 

1) Turn on hazard lights to warn other drivers.

 

2) Put on a reflective vest (this takes just seconds).

 

3) Place a warning triangle:

- In the city – at least 20 meters from the accident scene;

- Outside the city – at least 40 meters away.

 

4) URGENTLY check the condition of the injured (right after ensuring minimal traffic safety).

 

2. Check the Condition of the Injured

 

1) Walk around the car – someone may have been ejected through a window or door.

 

2) Determine the number of injured and their condition.

 

3) If a person is unconscious – check for breathing.

 

4) If there is bleeding – provide first aid immediately (apply a tourniquet, press the wound).

 

5) If the person is conscious – reassure them and find out where they feel pain.

 

3. Call Emergency Services

 

103 – Ambulance

102 – Police

101 – Fire and Rescue Service

 

Provide the dispatcher with:
✔ The accident location (address or landmarks).
✔ The number of injured and their condition.
✔ Any threats present (fire, fuel leakage, etc.).

 

4. Ensure Vehicle Safety

 

1) Turn off the engine.

 

2) Engage the handbrake.

 

3) If necessary, place stones or other objects under the wheels to prevent uncontrolled movement.

 

4) If there is a fire hazard – use a fire extinguisher.

 

 

This procedure allows for a faster and more efficient response to the situation, minimizing risks for the injured and other road users.

 

Accident Response Algorithm: Assisting the Injured

 

Stopping Severe Bleeding

 

Stopping arterial bleeding is the primary step in providing first aid. A sign of this type of bleeding is bright red blood that spurts under pressure.

 

To stop the bleeding:

- Apply a tourniquet above the injury site, closer to the heart.

- If a tourniquet cannot be applied (e.g., in case of bleeding from the armpit or groin area), the wound should be packed, and a pressure bandage should be applied.

 

First aid follows the C – A – B principle:

- C (Circulation) – Control circulation and stop bleeding.

- A (Airway) – Ensure an open airway.

- B (Breathing) – Monitor breathing.

 

Assisting Unconscious Victims

 

If a person has lost consciousness:

 

1. Check if they are breathing:

- Observe chest movements (normal – 2-3 breaths in 10 seconds);

- Check the pulse on the radial artery (wrist), and if absent, on the carotid artery (neck, under the lower jaw).

 

2. If the airway is blocked:

- Remove any foreign objects;

- Use a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal airway tube to facilitate breathing.

 

3. Stabilizing the cervical spine:

- Fix the victim's head using a seat headrest and additional support (e.g., clothing);

- If there is no fire hazard, avoid moving the victim yourself, as this may cause complications in case of a cervical spine fracture.

 

4. Emergency evacuation is necessary if there is a life-threatening situation:

- Fire or smoke;

- Fuel leakage;

- Other hazardous conditions.

 

5. If breathing is absent (0-1 breath in 10 seconds):

- Carefully move the victim onto a flat surface;

- Place a thermal blanket under them (shiny side towards the body);

- Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

 

Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

 

1. Lay the victim on a firm, horizontal surface.

 

2. Kneel beside their shoulders.

 

3. Place one hand over the other, straighten your elbows, and position your hands in the center of the chest (between the nipples).

 

4. Chest compressions:

- Press down to a depth of 5-6 cm;

- Compression rate – 100-120 per minute;

- Use your body weight rather than just your hands.

 

5. If you have not been trained in CPR, perform only chest compressions until emergency medical help arrives.

 

6. If you have the necessary skills, follow the 30:2 method:

- 30 chest compressions;

- 2 breaths (using a protective film valve or airway).

 

7. Every 2 minutes (5 cycles), switch rescuers if possible to maintain effective compressions.

 

8. Continue CPR until medical help arrives or the victim starts breathing on their own.

 

First Aid for Burns

 

1. Use a fire extinguisher to put out flames.

 

2. Cool the affected area with clean water or a damp cloth (for at least 20 minutes).

 

3. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing to prevent infection.

 

4. Wrap the victim in a thermal blanket or another warm material.

 

How to Provide First Aid: Step-by-Step Video Guide from 24 Channel

 

 

What to Consider When Buying a Car First-Aid Kit

 

When choosing a car first-aid kit, check the following:

 

1. Expiration Date

 

Before purchasing, always check the expiration date of all items, especially antiseptics, bandages, and medications. Expired supplies may be ineffective or even dangerous.

 

2. Compliance with National Standards

 

The contents of the first-aid kit must comply with current national standards. However, the kit’s composition may vary depending on the manufacturer, so it is important to review its contents and, if necessary, add missing items (e.g., a modern tourniquet instead of a rubber strap or additional antiseptics).

 

3. Quality of Materials

 

- Check the materials of bandages and dressing supplies – they should be sterile and of high quality.

- Scissors, tweezers, and gloves should be comfortable and reliable.

- Antiseptics and wipes must be hermetically sealed.

 

4. Convenience of Placement in the Car

 

According to traffic regulations, the first-aid kit and fire extinguisher must be kept in an easily accessible location. In the event of an accident or emergency, quick access to the first-aid kit can save lives.

 

5. Storage Conditions

 

A car first-aid kit should not be stored:

- Under direct sunlight (e.g., on the dashboard);

- Near heat sources (close to the engine or heaters).

The optimal location is the glove compartment or a designated storage compartment in the trunk.

 

 

Take care of yourself and be prepared for any situation on the road!