Drivers of which vehicles are required to carry a first aid kit?
Russian traffic regulations contain an appendix that lists the conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited in our country. One of these conditions is the lack of a first aid kit on most types of transport.
According to the appendix to the traffic rules, a first aid kit is required for:
- buses,
- passenger cars,
- trucks,
- wheeled tractors,
- motorcycles with side trailers.
Thus, for example, a first aid kit is not required for motorcycles without a sidecar (“sidecar”).
A ban on operating the listed vehicles without a first aid kit does not mean a ban on movement. Of course, if a situation arises in which you have to use part of the contents of the first aid kit, you should not look for where to buy a new first aid kit or look for an opportunity to restock it, and only then move on. You can drive further, but at the first opportunity you need to purchase either a new first aid kit or that part of its contents that is missing.
Expiration date of a car first aid kit
Due to the lack of medications, the shelf life of a car first aid kit increases to 4.5 years . The driver has the right to change it within six months after the expiration of the optimal shelf life indicated on the packaging. Thus, if you change your car first aid kit every five years, you will not break the rules, but you still need to make sure that the service life and date of manufacture match!
Note: the dressings and bandages included in the first aid kit can be stored indefinitely (under the correct storage conditions). The recommended service life of tourniquets and patches is no more than five to six years.
When were the last changes made to the composition of the car first aid kit?
The composition of a car first aid kit, which is mandatory in 2021, was approved back in 2009, and the changes came into force at the beginning of 2010. Since then, nothing has changed; the composition of the first aid kit remains the same for the ninth year in a row.
The changes that were made to the first aid kit in 2009 were very noticeable. In a modern car first aid kit there are virtually no medications in the form of drugs, especially painkillers.
A modern first aid kit is mainly tools for dressing wounds and stopping bleeding, as well as for carrying out resuscitation actions that are accessible to a non-specialist.
There are several reasons why painkillers were removed from the first aid kit. One of the main ones is the victim’s possible allergies, due to which painkillers will only worsen his condition. Another reason is that it is impossible to provide some specific storage conditions for such medications in a car.
Law and car first aid kit
By order of the Russian Ministry of Health in 2009, the composition of the travel first aid kit was changed. Today it has been reduced to a minimum, so that many drugs that were considered necessary in the past have disappeared from the composition, but according to the new rules they are no longer needed. For example, the authorities removed validol, aspirin, analgin, nitroglycerin, ammonia and brilliant green with activated carbon from the list.
They decided to replace such products with universal medical dressings. Instead, a large number of different adhesive plasters and types of bandages appeared in the purse. Of course, on the one hand, they are needed and will help in emergency cases, but on the other hand, it is the old composition that may be more useful if a critical situation arises.
Composition of a car first aid kit in 2021
The composition of a first aid kit for motorists is regulated by the Order of the Ministry of Health (in 1996, when the order was drawn up, the ministry was called the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry) in its current version.
In total, the first aid kit should contain 17 different items (including the case and instructions):
- Hemostatic tourniquet - 1 pc.
- Non-sterile bandages 5 m x 5 cm - 2 pcs.
- Non-sterile bandages 5 m x 10 cm - 2 pcs.
- Non-sterile bandages - 7 m x 14 cm - 1 pc.
- Sterile bandages 5 m x 7 cm - 2 pcs.
- Sterile bandages 5 m x 10 cm - 2 pcs.
- Sterile bandages 7 m x 14 cm - 1 pc.
- Sterile dressing bag - 1 pc.
- Sterile medical gauze wipes (minimum 16x14 cm) - 1 pack.
- Bactericidal adhesive plasters (minimum 4x10 cm) - 2 pcs.
- Bactericidal adhesive plasters (minimum 1.9x7.2 cm) - 10 pcs.
- Rolled adhesive plaster (minimum 1 cm x 2.5 m) - 1 pc.
- Device for resuscitation “mouth-device-mouth” - 1 pc.
- Scissors - 1 pair.
- Medical gloves (minimum size M) - 1 pair.
- Recommendations for using a first aid kit - 1 copy.
- Case for first aid kit - 1 pc.
Theoretically, you are not required to buy a ready-made first aid kit. You can assemble it yourself.
Of course, it’s easier to buy a ready-made kit, but you can complete the first aid kit yourself. The main thing is not to forget to find and print (or, alternatively, make a photocopy) recommendations for using a first aid kit and put first aid supplies in the case. Both of these elements must be present.
What should be in a first aid kit in a car?
Collect a first aid kit
According to modern requirements, it is not at all difficult. After the 2010 amendments, the requirements for drivers became much softer. In particular, cardiac and disinfectant drugs, as well as analgesics and antihistamines were removed from the mandatory list. In total, a first aid kit for a car (2017 composition) should include the following:
- tourniquet to stop bleeding;
- non-sterile bandage 5 cmx5 m and 10 cmx5 m (2 pcs.);
- non-sterile bandage 14 cmx7 m (1 pc.);
- sterile bandage 10 cmx5 m and 7 cmx5 m (2 pcs.);
- sterile bandage 14 cmx7 m (1 pc.);
- dressing bag (sterile);
- sterile gauze wipes;
- bactericidal adhesive plaster (1.9x7.2 cm - 10 pcs.; 4x10 cm - 2 pcs.);
- roll adhesive plaster (1×250 cm);
- disposable gloves;
- scissors;
- the first aid kit itself (case with instructions for use);
- CPR kit (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
As you can see, in the new requirements everything is focused on ensuring that there are means at hand that can stabilize the condition of the wounded before the doctors arrive. No pills or other medications. On the one hand, this is better - the first aid kit has become noticeably cheaper and there are fewer items with a short shelf life in it. Although many still feel much safer stocking up on a full set. The law does not prohibit adding to the first aid kit on your own initiative, so if you wish, you can also include essential medicines in it. First of all this:
- antibiotics for wounds (in the form of ointments or powders);
- antihistamines (to relieve allergic reactions);
- aspirin and any pain reliever (the best choice is ibuprofen);
- anti-burn ointment;
- insect bite creams;
- corticosteroid creams (to relieve rashes and skin inflammation).
Few people seriously think that next time trouble on the road might happen to them. But according to statistics, the chances of this happening are very high. Therefore, when buying a first aid kit
It is important not to chase cheapness, buying outright counterfeit goods just for show. However, it is also not necessary to overpay.
The TopDetal.ru online store offers the best options for first aid kits for cars. They are assembled taking into account current requirements and contain only high-quality components. Their purchase will not cause much damage to your wallet, but if such a problem arises, they will work out their value 100%.
Expiration date of a medical first aid kit 2021
Even from the composition of the first aid kit, it is obvious that it has a long shelf life. Since there are no medications in a modern car first aid kit, its shelf life is limited only by the shelf life of adhesive plasters, which lose their quality over time.
However, the first aid kit has a general shelf life of 4.5 years.
You are allowed to use the first aid kit for another six months, but during these six additional months it must be replaced with a new one.
Expiration dates
The expiration date of a first aid kit can always be seen on its packaging. If we talk about the shelf life of bandages and dressings, they can last for many years. But just the patch and tourniquets have a shelf life of 5 to 6 years. In general, we can say that due to the fact that medications are no longer present in the first aid kit, the shelf life increases significantly. Now it is 4.5 years, plus another six months is given to the driver to replace it.
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