Best Car First Aid Kits

Something that will easily be overlooked is a first aid kit for your car or vehicle. We use our car for commuting, to take us on adventures for the weekend, big road trips in to Europe and the wilderness that is the Highlands of Scotland and having a first aid kit is a must.

Even if you are away from your car, having one inside is a good idea, just in case you need to run back to it to get some special equipment out. At the bottom of this page you can watch a quick St John Ambulance First Aid Kit tutorial which should help you think about how and when to use certain first aid kit items.

What would you need in the case of an emergency in your cars first aid kit? Here are the main items that come in some of the first aid kits we have reviewed below.

  • Instant ice packs
  • Sterile eye wash
  • Bandages
  • First aid tape
  • Dressing
  • Eye pad
  • Plasters
  • Emergency blanket
  • Fabric strips
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Safety pins
  • Gloves
  • Tweezers
  • Scissors
  • Antiseptic creme
  • Emergency procedures information

We noticed that no matter how full or complete each kit may look, they are missing a few items, most notably, every first aid kit we have looked at is missing antiseptic creme, like germalene or similar.

The NHS in the UK recommends the following list of items for any basic first aid kit https://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/990.aspx?CategoryID=72&SubCategoryID=725

From this list we can see the following items are missing, which you should probably get and add to your kit in a second bag or try and fit them in with the below first aid kits:

A few other random items you may not consider getting and adding to your first aid kits are:

  • Cling film, which can help you dress burns or scalds
  • Alcohol gel or cream to clean your hands if you don’t have water or gloves to help someone
  • Blanket or survival blanket which will help keep people warm when they are still and being looked after
  • A torch or head torch, we would highly recommend the Nextorch Eco Star, a 2xAAA battery powered simple head torch that lasts ages, bright enough to walk and hike in the dark with and would be a fantastic part of your first aid kit, especially if something happens at night or in the dark
  • A whistle to make people aware of your location, even if you are in or near your car and you spot someone in the distance and need help a whistle can help make people aware of your location

What To Do When Someone Gets Hurt

Hopefully it won’t be more than a graze, a stumble with a twisted ankle or a burn from working on the car. Whatever it is, having a first aid kit will always benefit you.

For small problems you should be ok with working out what it is you need to do, but for bigger issues there are some guidelines on the NHS website which walk you through what you need to do in case of an emergency and to treat someone. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/first-aid/

This page talks you through some of the more common injuries and problems, such as:

And just to make sure you can access this information, it is probably a good idea to download a first aid app, we recommend this one from the Red Cross, which has basic first aid instructions and baby and child first aid information too.

This means, no matter where you are, you will be able to access information when you need it, even without signal. So if you find yourself driving through the wilderness somewhere, you should be better equipped because you’ll have both a resource of information on you and also a well stocked first aid kit.

We have reviewed 4 first aid kits, they differ in their items and packaging, but all offer some form of first aid help, when needed. Out of all of the first aid kits we have reviewed, they still seem to miss a few specific items, things that we always have in our first aid kits, of which we highlighted above.

The best car first aid kit is the Body Source First Aid Kit, it comes in a water resistant green carry bag with handle and zips up around all the inner first aid items. This kit has by far the most amount of items in it’s pack, which we list below in it’s review, it’s very affordable, looks like a first aid kit should, so no hard to find when it’s needed and it’s best feature is the inner compartments.

Everything can be tucked away in small internal pockets and can be seen as soon as you open it up. So when it is unzipped, you can see what you need and grab it within a few seconds. Even with everything it manages to fit in, you don’t feel as though items get lost.

We would like to pair the AA and St John Ambulance first aid kits as the second best kits and more affordable options. They don’t come with as many first aid items that the Body Source First Aid kit has but they are both very good kits.

The AA first aid kit is smaller than the others and can fit in to a glove compartment or similar sized compartment or area. If you want a simple first aid kit that has a lot of plasters or would like to combine kits, this one is for you. It has more plasters and bandages than the other kits combined.

The St John Ambulance First Aid Kit has more tools in it, like scissors and even an emergency blanket. it would still need pairing with another first aid kit or stocking up with a few more items to create a full basic first aid kit to cover as many problems as possible.

For the money though, it is a fantastic little kit and one that will see you stocked up for a while. If you already have your own antiseptic cream, pain killers this should keep you going for a while and be very handy when needed.

Our final review is that of the Astroplast Piccolo First Aid Kit, another good kit, but is limited in what supplies it carries. It is cheaper than the other kits and doesn’t have as many different items, but what it does have will definitely help when needed. There are plenty of plasters, which are waterproof, pins, wipes, dressings and even eye pads and saline eye drops. It will need a few items adding to cover you in case of other problems but it’s a very good start for the money and the first aid kit box it comes in is hard wearing and waterproof. The only other downside is that you can’ pack this underneath anything or squeeze it in to small spots when packing your car like other first aid kits that have a soft outer zip up case.

RankBuyTitleRatingPrice
1Check price @ AmazonReview of The Body Source First Aid Kit4.8/5££
2Check price @ AmazonReview of AA Ultimate First Aid Kit4.6/5££
3Check price @ AmazonReview of St John Ambulance Deluxe Motorist’s First Aid Kit4.4/5££
4Check price @ AmazonReview of Astroplast Piccolo General Purpose First Aid Kit4.1/5£

Review of The Body Source First Aid Kit

This is a review of The Body Source First Aid Kit

Check price @ Amazon

The Body Source First Aid Kit

Technical DetailsPortableYesRating4.8/5Price££WarrantyNoVehiclecarsuvtruckvanBrandThe Body SourceNumber of seats1 seatsDimensions22 x 17 x 6cmWeight590 gWashableNoNext Day DeliveryNoStar rating

The Body Source First Aid kit is a high quality kit that includes a long comprehesive list of items. Surprisingly the bag manages to squeeze it all in.

The bag is made from a hard wearing water resistant nylon, which makes it perfect for travelling in a car, van or campervan that involves lots of adventures.

The bag also folds out so that there is a extra part that holds several pockets to the inside of the lid which is great for popping in the tweezers or scissors. This also has a large mesh compartment for the flat items such as plasters and wipes. There is a main zipped plastic sealed compartment to the base, this is quite helpful for containing loose bits, pins or the eye wash. 

​2 x Instant Cold (Ice) Packs 
1 x 15ml Sterile Eye Wash 
2 x Conforming Bandages 7.5cm x 4.5m 
2 x Conforming Bandages 5.0cm x 3.6m
2 x Triangular Bandages 96cm x 96cm x 136cm
1 x First Aid Tape Roll 1.25cm x 4.5m 
3 x Wound Dressing 10cm x 10cm
1 x Crepe Bandage Roll 7.5cm x 4.5m 
2 x Sterile Eye Pad 6cm x 8cm
30 x Adhesive Plasters 1.9cm x 7.6cm
10 x Adhesive Plasters 1.0cm x 4.0cm
1 x Foil Emergency Blanket 130cm x 210cm
3 x Non Adherent Pad 3″ x 3″
2 x Knuckle Fabric Strips 7.5cm x 3.8cm
2 x Fingertip Fabric Strips 5.8cm x 4.5cm
10 x Antiseptic Wipes 
12 x Safety Pins
2 x Vinyl Medical Gloves
1 x Plastic Tweezers
1 x Medical Scissors

This is a well packed first aid kit that includes a number of different size plasters and bandages suitable for different areas of the body and body sizes.Pros

  • Comprehensive first aid kit
  • Excellent quality
  • Hard wearing nylon case
  • Durable water resistant case
  • Inside pockets and compartments
  • Next day delivery with Amazon Prime
  • Includes ice packs and eye wash and tweezers
  • Variety of different size bandages and plasters

Cons

  • A little bulky

Verdict

This is a fantastic travel first aid bag for any vehicle especially those who live an active lifestyle.

Review of AA Ultimate First Aid Kit

This is a review of the AA Ultimate First Aid Kit

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AA Ultimate First Aid Kit

Technical DetailsPortableYesRating4.6/5Price££Remote ControlNoWarrantyNoVehiclecarsuvtruckvanBrandAANumber of seats1 seatsWashableNoNext Day DeliveryNoStar rating

The AA first aid kit comes in a compact soft nylon case. It is hand size so it can go into your glove compartment easily. As well as in the pouches to the back of your seats. Personally I would rather it did say “First Aid Kit” in big letters on the bag as for anyone rummaging around in a car looking for a first aid kit, this doesn’t distinctly shout out at you, instead it looks more like a wash bag.

Included inside the case is:

6 x wound dressings (10cm x 10cm)
2 x triangular badges (136cm x 96cm x 96 cm)
2 x first aid dressings (40cm x 60cm)
1 x first aid dressing (60cm x 80cm)
3 x first aid compress (8cm x 10cm)
2 x bandages (4m x 6cm)
3 x bandages (4m x 8cm)
1 x emergency blanket (160cm x 210cm)
8 x adhesive plasters (10cm x 6cm)
1 x pair of scissors
1 x adhesive tape (5m x 2.5cm)
1 x information sheet
1 x emergency procedures sheet
 

The kit contains a variety of different bandages and plasters and a helpful first aid information sheets however the kit does not contain gloves, tweezers, eye wash or antiseptic wipes. I would say this is a kit helpful for minor cuts and scrapes.

To the plastic protecting the items, there is helpful advice on their usage.Pros

  • Compact
  • Easy to access
  • Contains many bandages and plasters
  • Helpful for minor cuts and scrapes
  • Next day delivery with Amazon Prime

Cons

  • Missing key items to be called an Ultimate first aid kit
  • Does not appear water resistant or proof
  • Looks more like a wash bag than a first aid kit

Verdict

If you want something that will keep you stocked up on plasters and soft bandages for a while, this is a bumper pack full of these first aid items. There aren’t many other items in the pack, but you wouldn’t have to keep on re-filling it with plasters.

Maybe if this was shared with a separate kit that had small tools and equipment in it, it would make a fantastic motoring first aid kit.

Review of St John Ambulance Deluxe Motorist’s First Aid Kit

This is a review of the St John Ambulance Deluxe Motorist’s First Aid Kit

Check price @ Amazon

St John Ambulance Deluxe Motorist's First Aid Kit

Technical DetailsPortableYesRating4.4/5Price££WarrantyNoBrandSt John’s AmbulanceNumber of seats1 seatsDimensions20 x 13 x 6 cmWashableNoNext Day DeliveryNoStar rating

The St John’s Deluxe First Aid Kit is a small size first aid kit designed for emergencies in mind, there is even a less compact version called the “standard”. This pack includes essentials for an emergency out on the road.

The pouch is very easy to open and has a robust little handle that can be attached round a strap on a rucksack for when leaving your car to go hiking or camping. As well as being handy to grab from the car in an emergency.

The kit includes:

  • First Aid in an Emergency booklet
  • 8 x Packs assorted washproof plasters (10-pack)
  • 2 x No.16 eye pad
  • 2 x Disposable triangular bandage
  • 1 x Pack safety pins (6-pack)
  • 2 x HSE medium
  • 2 x HSE large dressing
  • 10 x Cleansing wipes
  • 2 x SJS nitrile powder-free gloves
  • 2 x Conforming bandage 5 cm x 4.5 m
  • 1 x Conforming bandage 10 cm x 4 m
  • 1 x Tuff-Kut scissors
  • 6 x Eye wash phials 20 ml
  • 2 x SJS face shield–single
  • 1 x Low-adherent absorbent dressing 5 x 5 cm
  • 2 x Big plasters 7.5 x 10 cm
  • 1 x Microporous tape 2.5 cm x 10 m
  • 1 x Gauze swabs 5 x 5 cm
  • 1 x Gauze swabs 10 x 10 cm
  • 2 x Burnshield 10 x 10 cm
  • 1 x Disposable heat-retaining blanket

This inside of the kit 5 mesh pockets, four to the inside of the lid and then one large mesh pocket to the base. This works well to make sure items to fall out, however I would be careful to pack away the safety pins as these could fall through the mesh. Also I would be careful with the eye wash as the liquid could damage the bag and other items as there is no plastic cover to any pockets.

The kit also comes with a handy emergency first aid booklet which can be helpful in a time of panic. For a deluxe first aid kit it does provide a comprehensive amount of items and even then there is a fair amount of space still in the case for you to add extra bandages, painkillers or ointments.Pros

  • Comes in a soft easy to carry and transport pouch
  • Designed for emergencies on the road
  • Easy to grab
  • Comprehensive amount of items
  • First Aid booklet included
  • Space could be used for other items inside

Cons

  • Not next day delivery
  • Quite pricey for size and contents
  • Wasted space

Verdict

The St John’s Ambulance first aid kit is a fantastic little bag to be able to grab from your car in an emergency.

Review of Astroplast Piccolo General Purpose First Aid Kit

This is a review of the Astroplast Piccolo General Purpose First Aid Kit

Check price @ Amazon

Astroplast Piccolo General Purpose First Aid Kit

Technical DetailsPortableYesRating4.1/5Price£WarrantyNoVehiclecarsuvtruckvanBrandAstroplastNumber of seats1 seatsDimensions20.8 x 20.3 x 5.6 cmNext Day DeliveryYesStar rating

The Astroplast General Purpose First Aid kit by Wallace Cameroon is surprisingly compact and lightweight.  It’s dimensions are actually quite small for a first aid kit but this helps with ease of use while travelling.

It comes in a hard case or should be say “suitcase” with its inbuilt handle. This makes it portable and easy to carry as well as stow away in the boot or under your passenger seat protected in its hard blue plastic cover.

The box is also see through which allows you to keep tabs on the most important items in your first aid kit by keeping them to the front or back so you know when your running low.

It comes stocked with:

  • 20 x waterproof plasters
  • scissors
  • 12 x safety pins
  • 2 x pairs disposable gloves
  • 6 x alcohol-free wipes
  • 2 x medium dressings
  • 4 x non-adherent dressings
  • 1 x dressing, tape
  • 4 x saline eyepod
  • 2x No. 16 eyepads
  • 5 x tissues
  • 2 x disposable aprons.

With the items included means you are prepared for minor injuries while out and especially when children are travelling a first aid kit is essential.Pros

  • Well stocked
  • Hard case
  • Inbuilt handle
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Cheap
  • Next day delivery

Cons

  • Hard case is potential to crack and breaks
  • Missing thermal blanket, tweezers

Verdict

This is a great value for money first aid kit that comes in a hard case and arrives next day.

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