60 Million Potential First Responders:
Berlin. The German Medical Technology Association (BVMed) sees great potential in automotive first-aid kits for involving laypeople in emergency care. While first-aid kits or first-aid bags are available almost everywhere, they are rarely used as an active resource in emergency situations. “60 million vehicles equipped with first-aid kits mean that we have 60 million potential first responders in Germany. First-aid kits should therefore be structurally integrated into layperson emergency care and given greater consideration in prevention campaigns,” urges BVMed Executive Director Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll.
Involving laypeople in first aid is not only important in traffic situations. First aid instruction should also take place in schools — mandatory starting in 7th grade and combined with CPR training. “It is important to learn how to use first aid supplies in an emergency at an early age and to practice regularly,” according to the BVMed.
To ensure that people of all ages can actually help in an emergency, they need not only knowledge and practice but also the right equipment. A first-aid kit is an essential part of first-aid supplies and should be checked regularly to ensure it is complete and that its contents are still usable, the BVMed urges.
First-Aid Kit Check Before Your Vacation Trip
Especially in early summer, before upcoming vacation trips, checking your car’s first-aid kit should be on your to-do list. It should be complete—and any sterile-packed items should not be expired. “Checking it regularly is generally a good idea, because a first-aid kit that meets DIN 13164:2022 standards and is ready for use is the foundation for the best possible first aid, even in everyday life,” advises the BVMed.
In addition, the law requires that a high-visibility vest (DIN EN 471 or EN ISO 20471:2013) and a warning triangle must be carried in the vehicle. These are intended for your own safety and to secure the accident scene. If you are travelling with other people, you should also carry high-visibility vests for them. These are also available in sizes for children and young people.
Drivers are advised to familiarise themselves with the location of the first-aid kit, high-visibility vests and warning triangle in the vehicle before setting off, so that they can be found quickly and easily.
Further information on this topic can be found on the BVMed topic portal at www.bvmed.de/erste-hilfe.
Add this to your pre-holiday checklist: Is the first-aid kit complete, including two medical face masks? Are the sterile items well packed and still within their use-by dates? Standardised high-visibility vests are also a must in the car – ideally for all passengers. Having the first-aid kit and high-visibility vests quickly to hand saves valuable time in an emergency.
Source: https://www.bvmed.de/verband/presse/pressemeldungen/60-millionen-potenzielle-ersthelfer-verbandkasten-im-fahrzeug-vor-der-urlaubsfahrt-ueberpruefen
Note to the media:
A press photo can be downloaded from www.bvmed.de/bvmed-verbandkasten.
