The best first aid kit for your car

By Ané Theron

An accident can happen at any time, but if you're a motorist, the odds of finding yourself in an emergency situation are even higher.

Every first aid kit should contain items that can treat cuts and burns, insect stings, scissors to cut clothing if needed, and items to splint a fracture. You'll also need antiseptic solution to clean wounds with.

If you or your family are allergic to anything, keep this medication in your first-aid kit too, and mark it clearly. Medication to treat pain, nausea, or stomach cramps, is a must-have. Again, mark it clearly and place it in child-proof containers. You should ideally also have sunblock, after-sun lotion, an emergency blanket, insect repellant and even a toilet roll if a tummy bug strikes unexpectedly.

The most important thing to remember when compiling a first-aid kit, is to protect yourself if you need to help others - not necessarily your own family. This means a pocket mask in case you need to perform CPR, and medical/surgical gloves. If you come into contact with bodily fluids of someone who has a highly infectious disease, this can spell disaster for you.

Apart from personal/family medication, the ideal first-aid kit should contain the following, according to paramedics.

• 2 First-aid dressing No. 5
• 2 First-aid dressing No. 3
• 2 Conform bandage 75mm x 4.5m
• 2 Conform bandage 50mm x 4.5m
• 2 Triangular bandage
• 10 plasters - single
• 1 Small child-safe scissors - metal
• 1 Forceps - metal
• 1 Safety pins 10’s
• 1 Antiseptic solution 100ml
• 1 CPR mouthpiece
• 2 Gloves per pair
• 2 Sterile gauze 75x75mm 5’s
• 1 Eno sachet
• 4 Alcohol Swab
• 1 Burn dressing 10x10cm
• 1 Paper tape 25mm x 3m
• 1 Rescue blanket
• 1 Plaster roll 25mm x 3m

Where to find a suitable first aid kit?

We found a few car-friendly first-aid kits online. This one is priced at R429. Click here .

Be-safe.co.za has a motorist-specific first-aid kit. Price on request. Click here.

Safequip's first-aid kit (intended for the workplace but also suitable for your car) also contains all the right stuff. Price on request. Click here.

If you do a search for first-aid kits on loot.co.za as well as Takealot, you will find a whole array of options for sale at more competitive prices. It should tell you what each kit contains, and you can use the list above to check that it has all the necessities.

If you prefer not to shop online, retailers such as Dischem and Clicks also have first-aid kits available.