Your Car First Aid Kit

First Aid Training

In several countries, learner drivers must undergo training in first aid before they can acquire a licence. The Red Cross has campaigned for similar legislation in Britain, but so far to no effect. There is no doubt though that a basic knowledge of first aid is among the most useful skills you can have. The first few minutes after an accident are the most important. Emergency service workers will not have had time to arrive yet, and it will fall to those on the scene to do what they can to help.

You don't need to be trained in first aid for a car first aid kit to be useful to you, but if you are trained you will be better able to deal with any medical emergency that occurs. Institutions like the Red Cross or the St. John's Ambulance provide first aid training courses across the UK. These are priced very reasonably and some take only a few hours to complete. What you learn there could make a big difference when the time comes. If you don't want to attend one of these training sessions, there are online first aid courses available which can acquaint you with the basics.

First Aid Kit For The Road

Some countries, such as Austria, require drivers to carry a first aid kit with them at all times; in most countries, this is merely recommended. Surprisingly few people, however, follow up on this recommendation.

A wide range of first aid kits, specially designed for use in vehicles, are now available quite cheaply from a range of providers. Alternatively, it is reasonably easy to assemble one yourself. Whether you're going to buy an off-the-shelf kit or put together one of your own, you should expect it to contain most of the following;

• Safety pins of varying sizes.
• A number of wet wipes (alcohol or antiseptic).
• Flashlight.
• First-aid manual.
• Strong scissors.
• Gauze Swabs.
• Dressing for wounds.
• Hypoallergenic tape.
• Cotton wool balls.
• Tweezers
• At least one pair of protective gloves.
• Burn treatment cream.
• Aspirin.
• Emergency blanket.
• Bandages of various shapes and sizes.
• Note pad and pencil.
• Adhesive Tape.

Many items used in medical care have expiry dates so be sure that you pay attention to these and keep your kit refreshed periodically.

If you or the members of your family have any special medical conditions such as allergies, you should write that information down on a card and place it in your first aid kit so that, if you are incapacitated, it can be found by those trying to help.

A good first aid kit should really be considered as essential as a spare tyre or a de-icing spray in any responsible motorist's kit. Just a little investment of expense and effort now could pay an enormous dividend in future if worst comes to worst, and you do find yourself having a crisis on the road.