First Aid Kit

1. Definition and Regulatory Requirements

A vehicle first aid kit refers to an onboard emergency pack containing essential medical tools and dressings, designed to provide immediate on-site medical response during road traffic collisions or sudden acute illnesses. Its primary objective is to administer haemostasis, bandaging, fracture immobilisation, and basic life support before professional emergency services arrive, thereby mitigating the risk of fatalities resulting from severe haemorrhage, wound contamination, or airway obstruction.
Under GB 7258-2017 "Technical Specifications for Safety of Power-driven Vehicles Operating on Roads", commercial passenger vehicles (including school buses) are legally mandated to carry a first aid kit. However, for standard passenger cars, it remains a recommended safety specification rather than a mandatory requirement. Nevertheless, several automotive manufacturers fit them as standard factory equipment (such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW), whilst select European nations enforce their inclusion in all new passenger vehicles by law.

2. Standard Configuration List and Function Description

The contents of an automotive first aid kit must cater to the preliminary treatment of common road accident injuries. The standard configuration recommended under the national standard GB/T 38798-2020 "Specification of Configuration and Usage for Motor Vehicle First Aid Kit" includes:

Category	Item Description	Quantity	Primary Purpose
Haemostasis & Dressing	Medical gauze swabs (large/medium)	2–4 pcs each	Wound coverage, direct pressure haemostasis
	Crepe / Elastic bandage (5cm/7.5cm)	2 rolls each	Securing dressings, pressure dressing
	Triangular bandage (96×96×136cm)	2 pcs	Arm slings, extensive wound bandaging
	Tourniquet (windlass or quick-release buckle)	1 pc	Emergency arterial haemorrhage control on limbs
	Adhesive plasters (assorted sizes)	10 pcs	Minor superficial cuts and abrasions
Wound Care	Povidone-iodine swabs / Antiseptic wipes	10 pcs / 5 pcs	Periwound disinfection and cleansing
	Microporous surgical tape (hypoallergenic)	1 roll	Securing dressings and tubing
	Trauma shears / Medical scissors (blunt tip)	1 pair	Cutting clothing, seatbelts, or dressings
	Disposable gloves (nitrile or latex)	2 pairs	Personal protection against cross-contamination
Immobilisation & Support	Malleable aluminium foam splint	1 pc	Temporary immobilisation of limb fractures
	Cervical collar (adjustable)	1 pc	Cervical spine immobilisation for suspected trauma
Others	First aid guide (illustrated)	1 copy	Step-by-step emergency instructions and precautions
	CPR face shield (with one-way valve)	1 pc	Barrier protection during rescue breathing
	Emergency thermal space blanket (foil)	1 pc	Thermal retention, prevention of hypothermia
	Emergency contact card (medical log)	1 pc	Documenting casualty details and emergency contacts

3. Storage Location and Accessibility

Optimal Placement: Store in the glove box, centre console storage box, or beneath the driver’s seat, allowing the driver to access it instantly from the cabin without having to step out of the car.
Secondary Placement: The boot side cargo net or dedicated storage compartment beside the spare wheel well, kept separate from loose cargo to prevent it from being buried under luggage.
Securing the Kit: The kit should feature conspicuous emergency markings (such as a Red Cross emblem) and be secured with anti-slip backing or Velcro straps to prevent it from sliding during hard braking manoeuvres.
Passenger Familiarisation: Car owners should ensure regular passengers and family members know the exact location of the kit so that any occupant can retrieve it swiftly in an emergency.

4. Practical Usage and Operating Procedures

Target Scenarios:
- Traumatic bleeding, fractures, and soft-tissue injuries resulting from road accidents.
- Acute in-car medical conditions, such as syncope or chest pain/angina, while awaiting the arrival of an ambulance.
- On-the-go treatment for minor scrapes, lacerations, and cuts.
Haemostasis Techniques:
- Direct Pressure: Place a sterile dressing directly over the wound and apply firm, continuous pressure with the palm until bleeding is controlled. If blood seeps through, do not remove the original dressing; layer additional dressings on top and maintain pressure.
- Limb Elevation: Unless a fracture is suspected, elevate the injured limb above heart level to help reduce blood flow to the wound.
- Tourniquet Application: Reserved strictly for severe, arterial spurting blood loss on limbs when direct pressure fails. Apply 5–10 cm proximal to the bleeding site, record the exact application time (down to the minute), and loosen briefly for 1–2 minutes every 40–60 minutes only if definitive surgical care is immediately available.
Fracture Immobilisation:
- Use a malleable splint to immobilise the joints above and below the suspected fracture site. Ensure soft padding (such as gauze or clothing) is placed between the splint and bare skin.
- A cervical collar should only be applied to casualties suspected of spinal trauma prior to extrication; never twist, flex, or extend the casualty’s neck during application.
Infection Control and Safety:
- Always put on disposable protective gloves prior to administering aid to avoid direct contact with blood and bodily fluids, minimising the risk of blood-borne infections.
- Thoroughly sanitise hands post-treatment and dispose of biohazard-contaminated dressings responsibly.

5. Routine Inspection and Upkeep

Inspection Item	Interval	Check Points	Corrective Action
Antiseptic Expiry	Every 6 months	Expiry dates of iodine swabs and antiseptic wipes	Replace immediately once expired
Dressing Integrity	Every 6 months	Check gauze and bandage packaging for tears, dampness, or contamination	Replace immediately if seal is compromised
Tool Functionality	Annually	Smooth operation of trauma shears; buckle mechanism of tourniquet	Replace immediately if damaged or jammed
Medication Expiry (if oral drugs are kept)	Every 6 months	Check expiration dates, signs of discolouration, or moisture damage	Replace immediately once expired

Key Maintenance Guidelines:

Store the first aid kit in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. Under extreme local weather, cabin and boot temperatures can exceed 60°C under the afternoon sun, which rapidly deteriorates sterile packaging and causes antiseptic solutions to evaporate.
Replenish any consumed items promptly after use to ensure the kit remains fully stocked at all times.
Once sterile packaging is unsealed (e.g. torn antiseptic wipe sachets), replace the item even if unused, as sterility has been compromised.

6. Common Pitfalls and Precautions

Incorrect Practice	Potential Consequence	Correct Protocol
Applying medicinal balms, ointments, or traditional herbal powders directly onto open wounds	Heightens infection risks and complicates surgical debridement at the hospital	Cover purely with sterile dressings and leave wound management to medical personnel
Pushing protruding internal organs back into the abdominal cavity	Triggers severe peritonitis and deep abdominal sepsis	Cover with sterile saline-soaked gauze and shield with a clean, rigid, dome-shaped cover
Roughly moving a casualty with suspected spinal or neck injuries	Risk of spinal cord transection leading to permanent paralysis	Fit a cervical collar, use a rigid backboard/stretcher, and execute a synchronised log-roll transfer
Leaving a tourniquet tightly applied for excessive periods (>2 hours)	Severe distal tissue ischaemia resulting in limb necrosis	Check every 40–60 minutes, document application time clearly, and brief paramedics upon handover
Prematurely extracting impaled foreign bodies (e.g. shattered glass, rebar)	Uncontrolled catastrophic haemorrhage or secondary vascular/nerve damage	Stabilise and pack dressings around the embedded object, bandage securely, and rush to emergency care

7. Future Trends

Smart First Aid Kits: Integrating built-in sensors and IoT connectivity, these systems track the expiration dates of consumables and ambient storage temperatures via a smartphone app, sending automated replenishment reminders. Some packages also incorporate QR codes linking instantly to interactive visual guides and step-by-step video tutorials.
In-Vehicle Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Integration: With miniaturisation and lower manufacturing costs, premium passenger cars and commercial fleet vehicles (such as stage buses and school buses) are increasingly adopting onboard AED units to deliver early defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest events.
OEM First Aid Training Synergies: A growing number of car manufacturers and distributors are bundling complimentary basic life support and trauma management workshops into new vehicle handover programmes, ensuring drivers possess the know-how and confidence to utilise their onboard emergency gear.
Modular Equipment Packs: Kits tailored to specific vehicle usage profiles (e.g. daily city commute, cross-country touring, or serious off-road expeditions) — urban editions prioritise bleeding control and CPR shields, whilst overland/off-road editions incorporate snakebite kits, structural splints, and sterile wound irrigation systems.