Over the past eight years, the composition of the first-aid kit has remained unchanged, however, drivers who bought it after changes in the legislation of 2010 are required to replace it in a timely manner. Lack of recruitment is punishable by a fine of 500 rubles. Similar sanctions apply to the driver even if the available first-aid kit is not properly equipped: there are no necessary medical products and preparations, dressings or their expiration date has expired. The presence and composition of a first-aid kit in Russia are mandatory.
Letter of the law
The official order on the composition of the first-aid kit indicates the list of necessary components and medical products, the frequency of updating and sanctions for non-compliance with the law. The normative document also stipulates the procedure for the entry of foreign drivers into the territory of Russia - a first-aid kit must be present in their vehicles.
Fines
The Code of Administrative Offenses (Part 1 of Article 12.5) indicates a fine of 500 rubles for the absence of a medical kit in the car.
It is impossible to pass a technical inspection without it or when the expiration date has expired.
Order
In September 2009, Order No. 697n was signed, according to which a first-aid kit with a composition according to GOST should be present in the passenger compartment of vehicles. The signed order came into effect on July 1, 2010. The main objective of this law was to introduce changes in the configuration of the first aid kit and equip it with new drugs and products.
On the territory of the Russian Federation automobile first-aid kits with the composition agreed upon with the Technical Conditions - standards that are the commercial and intellectual property of the developer are allowed to be used.
The composition of the first-aid kit according to GOST
The legislation in force on the territory of the Russian Federation requires that the equipment of a vehicle moving along the country's roads should include not only an emergency sign and fire extinguisher, but also a first aid kit. A separate item contains a list of what is included in the first-aid kit and a sign of its compliance with GOST.
According to GOST, the kit should include products that allow, if necessary, to provide first aid. Mandatory part of the first-aid kit must include:
- Non-sterile gauze bandages in three sizes.
- Sterile gauze bandages in three sizes.
- Hemostatic tourniquet.
- Sterile dressing bag.
- Sterile gauze wipes.
- Bactericidal adhesive plasters of two sizes.
- Rolled adhesive plaster.
- A special device for conducting artificial respiration.
- Medical sterile gloves.
- Case.
- Recommendation for the use of medical devices that are part of a first-aid kit.
Often low-cost medical kits include low-quality medical products: loose bandages, scissors with blunt blades, and more. In this regard, drivers often independently complete automobile first-aid kits, acquiring high-quality drugs and materials.
Additional Products
On the recommendation, additional medical preparations and products that are not specified by an approved order and applicable law may be included in the composition of a first-aid kit. These include medicines that stop bleeding, painkillers, eliminating inflammatory processes.
Additional medicines and products are selected by the car owner on their own. Despite this, the driver must know exactly the shelf life of the medications and change them on time.
What should not be included in the first aid kit
Law-abiding drivers should know not only the composition of the first-aid kit, but also the products and objects that should not be contained in it. Under the new law, drugs should not be included in medical kits for vehicles. The lack of medication is due to several reasons:
- Most people who provide first aid in the event of an accident do not have the necessary medical knowledge and do not know the exact use of drugs in specific circumstances.
- The use of medicines without appropriate experience and knowledge can be harmful if a particular person has contraindications to certain drugs.
- It is not possible to provide conditions suitable for storing medicines in the passenger compartment of a vehicle with regular temperature differences.
- Medicines included in the old-style automotive first-aid kits are not emergency medications.
According to statistics, the overwhelming number of deaths as a result of traffic accidents is the result of critical loss of blood to victims, and therefore, as part of the new sets, emphasis is placed on tools that can quickly stop bleeding. Accordingly, pharmacological preparations, iodine, zelenka and ammonia are not part of automobile first-aid kits.
Shelf life of first-aid kits
The FEST automotive first-aid kit of the new composition has a three-fold increased shelf life of 4.5 years. Such a significant extension of the shelf life was achieved due to the fact that medications that became unusable in a short time were removed from the first aid kit. After the expiration date of the first-aid kit, the car owner must replace it within six months.
On the front side of the case of the first-aid kit is indicated the date of manufacture, shelf life and date of replacement of the kit. In the updated composition, the harnesses and plasters have a minimum permitted period of use (5-6 years).
Recommendations for using a first-aid kit
When purchasing and using the kit, the driver must know:
- Products included in the list of compulsory first-aid kit items cannot be replaced with any other items selected by them of their own free will. The composition of the FEST automotive first-aid kit can be supplemented independently by purchasing the necessary medicines.
- Products with damaged marking or expired shelf life must not be used.
- If certain items were used from the first aid kit, then it must be retrofitted as soon as possible.
- You need to buy a first-aid kit only at dealerships or drugstores.
For ease of use, the set case is divided into several functional zones.
Recommendations for using the first-aid kit during an accident
- The sterile medical gloves included in the kit are worn.
- If the victim has arterial bleeding, the wound is clamped with fingers, a tourniquet is applied above it. A tight bandage of napkins and bandages is applied to the wound site itself. It is mandatory to remember or record the time of applying the tourniquet: subsequently it is communicated to ambulance employees. The best option is to write down the time on paper and secure it with a tourniquet.
- A device for artificial respiration is used in the absence of spontaneous breathing in the victim.
- Pressing tight dressings are applied to slightly bleeding wounds to prevent dirt and dust from entering them.
- A bactericidal patch is used to seal small abrasions and wounds on the body of the victim, if any.
- Be sure to call an ambulance.
The cost of a first-aid kit
You can purchase such sets of medical care only at dealerships or drugstores. Before you purchase a first-aid kit, you need to make sure the quality of its products and the integrity of the case itself. The cost of such kits may vary depending on where exactly they are purchased, their manufacturer and the quality of the materials used.
The minimum cost of first-aid kits is 160 rubles, but the quality of such kits leaves much to be desired. Prices for more reliable kits - for example, FEST automotive first-aid kits - start at 300 rubles.
Summary
The automobile first-aid kits of the old model were undoubtedly several times more functional than modern ones, since their composition made it possible to provide first aid to victims not only in case of bleeding. Despite the dramatic change in the composition of automobile first-aid kits and the lack of medicines and other medicines in it, the mortality rate in the event of an accident did not increase, since most of them do not belong to the category of first-aid equipment.
Buying first-aid kits is necessary only at dealerships and pharmacies. The car owner is obliged to monitor the expiration date of the kit, buy the spent medical devices on time and not replace them with third-party drugs and materials at their discretion and have basic skills and ideas about using the kit and providing first aid.