FIRST AID KITS IN CARS

[BENIDORM]

Could someone please tell me what should be the contents of the first aid kit, that by law you have to carry in your vehicle in Europe?

I've just checked my kit, and this is what it contains at the moment.

packet of asprins.. with one capsule left

a part tube of Bisodol

2 x emery boards

a bottle opener

a packet of plasters ..all stuck together

a hair scrunchie thing and some grips.

a letter addressed to 'take a break' with some entries to comps, 6 months out of date.

a pair of nail scissors

a very old empty lipstick, my Wife says that she is saving it to remember the shade

plus a few unmentionables....

So if you are unfortunate to have an accident , and I stop to help you, I will be able to treat your indigestion, cut your nails , re arrange your hair, and open a bottle of vino, while we are waiting for the ambulance...

So seriously, what should we have in the box ?

[silver]

the first aid kit, that by law you have to carry in your vehicle in Europe?

No idea..we don´t have one, don´t know of anyone who has.. did not know it was the law...

[BENIDORM]

Silver,
Yes, I believe it is necessary to carry a first aid kit in most countries in Europe, for Spain , it is recommended ....

Also for anyone who doesn't know ,you are normally required to carry..
.
2 x warning triangles
spare bulb kit
fire extinguisher
first aid kit
reflective vests, soon to be required for all car occupants, I'm told.

also it is illegal to carrier spare fuel in your vehicle, and if you run out of fuel you have also commited an offence because you have immobilized your vehicle..

But I still don't know what should be in the first aid box.

If anyone needs to buy reflective vests, I've found the bazaars, pound type shops the cheapest...not the garages

[stellastaff]

Don't know if there is an actual list, but having completed a first response course, I know for a fact that your first aid box, Benidorm, is a little 'understocked'! At least with first aid items anyway!!!

Recommended items would be: triangular bandage, bandages, absorbent dressings, scissors, tweezers, sterilised water sachets. I personally keep 'waspeze' antiseptic wipes and plasters also.

I didn't think, though, that it is a requirement here, only in France. Not sure though!

[hillybilly]

Have a look on eBay and you'll find lots of travel/car first aid kits for sale, with varying contents listed depending on size/price though the min seems to be:

1 x Sterile Large Dressing 180 x 180mm
10 x Assorted Waterproof Plasters
2 x Triangular Bandages
2 x Non Alcohol Wipes
1 x Disposable Gloves (Pair)
1 x First Aid Guidance Leaflet

I think your first aid kit sounds very useful! I always seem to be carrying a set of stepladders too, in case of emergency tho I'm not sure what kind...
More practical items - jump leads, battery booster pack and tyre inflator and plenty of water! Oh, and dog food.

[katy]

I have a few carrier bags, dog leads and about 50 flyers on places to eat. Oh and about 50 euros in 1 and 2 cents!

[BENIDORM]

Donna,
Thank you for your list, that's a great help, and with the list from

Hillybilly we should be prepared for any eventuality ! It is that long ago

since I did my first aid course,I don't think I would be much use anyway!!


Hillybilly,
Well.. aren't I a Sillybilly, I've just spent about 4 hours on ebay,

and never thought to look....!!

[BENIDORM]

Katy,
Thank you for that valuable input, however you won't be of much

use if there is an accident, but I could always contact you for

recommendations on where to eat..and borrow some change from you

[stellastaff]

Just a little something to bear in mind, Plasters and creams/ointments etc should be used with caution due to possibility of allergy! Also, forgot the most important thing-SURGICAL GLOVES!

[BENIDORM]

Donna,
You are so thoughtful,I would never have thought about allergies,

I've got some canvas garden gloves , will they do, instead of surgical

gloves....I'm allergic to rubber ! !

[nevada smith]

while your initial posting was somewhat -
what was that word now... droll... and you probably still have
your tongue firmly planted in your cheek -
non-allergenic surgical gloves are available and recommended against
possible hiv aids infection...

[BENIDORM]

Nevada,
A good honest answer to a good honest question,

Thank You so much,

[Megan]

Benidorm, you might want to include some disposable 'face shields' - they help prevent cross infection in case you need to perform the 'kiss of life'.

You mentioned that it was a while since you did your first aid course, well I hope you won't need to use it, but don't forget the most important thing ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)

Also to help stem blood loss from any wounds on arms & legs, raise the limb higher than the level of the heart (hope that makes sense!)

[BENIDORM]

Megan,
Thank you for that, I thought I would just have to carry an old tin

box with a few plasters in it....Any ideas as to where I can take a crash

course on First Aid ?...Sorry that was an unfortunate choice of

words...'crash.'.What was I thinking of ?...And now I'm going to have to

update my medical book, it tells you all about bloodletting and how to use

leaches, I think it's a bit out of date..!!

[Beachcomber]

Carrying a first aid kit or fire extinguisher is not a legal requirement for private vehicles in Spain.

[Megan]

Might be just as easy to get a new First Aid book rather than take a course (as you will just be brushing up on techniques that you have already been trained in before) so maybe a St Johns Ambulance First Aid Book would be useful.

re leaches & blood letting - does it mention trepanning as well?

[BENIDORM]

What an educated lot you are, if we keep going all night I will be able to

perform open heart surgery by tomorrow..

You are only recommended to carry a first aid kit in Spain as I said

earlier and Beachcomber kindly confirmed this, that also goes for fire

extinguishers as well, as he mentions..But you need 2 triangles here and

only 1 in France, very confusing isn't it?.


Megan, trepanning,..... funny you should mention that, but it does have a

section about that , in my complete Herbalist book, dated 1838, but I

need that as much as I need a hole in my head!


Pigs m.f.....K.Y Jelly........Is it made by Rowntrees ?...

I will have to go..missing the Liverpool v Barcelona match....

[Mixter]

These reflective vests....can they take any form. As in the general builders type? You can get them here for under a fiver. Unless theyre cheaper still, in Spain!

[BENIDORM]

Reflective vests, not bad for around a fiver, but I did manage to get one ,

for 4 euros here in Spain, but I have seen them for 5 / 6 euros

here...And by the way...don't leave them in the boot, you are supposed to

be able to reach them from the drivers seat, best place is on the back of

your seat, then they don't ask.

[alaninspain]

It may not be strictly ethical but when you fill up next with fuel aquire a couple of the plastic gloves used provided for diesel customers. They will do in an emergency.