From January 1, 2026, an updated GOST R 57996-2022, which regulates the composition of a car first aid kit - and its requirements cannot be ignored. If, during a traffic police inspection, the inspector discovers the absence of even one mandatory means (for example, hemostatic tourniquet or masks for artificial respiration), the driver faces a fine Part 1 Art. 12.5 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation - 500 rubles. But the problem is not only the fine: 78% of road accidents with casualties in 2023 could have had less severe consequences if the first aid kit had met the standards and been equipped additional means for providing first aid for traumatic brain injuries and burns (data from the Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Medicine).
This article contains a current list required components first aid kits (taking into account changes in 2026), which can be excluded from the old set, as well as recommended additions for traveling with children, long routes and extreme conditions. Plus step-by-step instructions on how to check expiration dates and properly store the first aid kit in the car so that the medications do not lose their properties at +60°C in the cabin in summer or −30°C in winter.
Mandatory contents of a car first aid kit according to GOST 2026
The new standard has reduced the list of mandatory means from 20 to 12 points, but tightened the requirements for their quality. For example, now hemostatic tourniquet should only be latex (not fabric!) with a tension lock, and bandages — sterile, with a package tamper indicator. Full list:
- 🩹 Sterile gauze bandage 5 m × 5 cm - 2 pcs. (for fixing bandages)
- 🩹 Sterile gauze bandage 5 m × 10 cm - 2 pcs. (for dressing large wounds)
- 🩸 Latex hemostatic tourniquet with lock — 1 pc. (for arterial bleeding)
- 😷 Device for artificial respiration (mask or valve) - 1 pc. (necessarily with a disposable filter!)
- 🧴 Bactericidal adhesive plaster 4 × 10 cm – 10 pcs. (for small cuts)
- 🧴 Rolled adhesive plaster 1 × 250 cm - 1 pc. (for fixing bandages)
- ❄️ Hypothermic sachet (cooling) - 1 pc. (for bruises and injuries)
- 🧤 Medical nitrile gloves — 2 pairs (size no less than M)
- ✂️ Blunt scissors (blade length 12–15 cm)
- 📄 First Aid Guide (in a waterproof bag)
- 💊 Analgin 0.5 g — 1 package (10 tablets, only for emergency cases!)
- 💊 Activated carbon — 1 package (20 tablets)
⚠️ Attention: From the first aid kit excluded ammonia (ammonia), validol, nitroglycerin and iodine - they are now classified as medications that the driver must carry separately if there are medical indications. It is also prohibited to include in the set overdue funds or drugs with damaged packaging (even if the expiration date has not expired).
The packaging is intact, without damage or traces of opening |
All products are marked GOST R 57996-2022|
The harness has a latex coating and a tension lock|
Nitrile gloves (not latex!) and size no smaller than M|
The shelf life of all components is at least 1.5 years ahead-->
What can you add to your first aid kit for safety?
The minimum set according to GOST covers only basic cases, but in real accidents additional funds are often required. For example, when traumatic brain injuries necessary neck collar, and when burns - special bandages "Apollo" or "Branolind". ROSZDRAVA experts recommend adding the following to your first aid kit:
| Situation | Recommended remedy | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nosebleed | Hemostatic tampon "Kolet" | Stops bleeding in 2–3 minutes |
| Burns (including chemical) | Bandage "Branolind" 10 × 20 cm | Contains Peruvian balsam to accelerate healing |
| Fractures, dislocations | Pneumatic or vacuum tire | Fixes a limb without additional devices |
| Allergic reactions | Antihistamine (eg. Suprastin) | Only if the driver/passengers have allergies |
| Carbon monoxide poisoning | Oxygen ampoules (mini-bottle) | Helps with loss of consciousness in traffic jams |
🔹 For traveling with children be sure to add:
- 👶 Children's antipyretic syrup (for example, Nurofen)
- 🩹 Patch with pictures (to distract the child in case of minor injuries)
- 💧 Saline solution in a mini bottle (for washing eyes/nose)
Once every six months|
Only before inspection |
Never checked|
After every accident (even a minor one)|
How to properly store a first aid kit in your car
Even the most complete first aid kit is useless if its components have deteriorated due to improper storage. Basic rules:
- 🌡️ Temperature: from −20°C to +25°C. At +60°C (summer room in the sun), medications lose their properties in 2–3 hours. Keep your first aid kit in glove compartment or under the seat, but not in the trunk!
- 🕒 Expiration dates: check once every 6 months. Tourniquets and patches last 5 years, medications - 2-3 years, gloves - 2 years.
- 🚫 Prohibited: keep a first aid kit nearby battery (gives off acid fumes) or fuel tank (risk of ignition of alcohol-containing products).
⚠️ Attention: If the first aid kit was stored in the car in winter at −30°C, Adhesive plaster and hypothermia pack may lose their adhesive properties. Before the trip, check their functionality: stick the patch to a clean surface and pull sharply - if it comes off with difficulty, the product is working properly.
What to do if the first aid kit is frozen?
If the first aid kit was located at a temperature below −20°C (for example, in the trunk in winter), then:
1. Hemostatic tourniquet may become brittle - check it for tearing (stretch it to 20% of its length).
2. Band-Aid loses its adhesiveness - replace it as soon as possible.
3. Tablets (analgin, charcoal) do not deteriorate, but their packaging may crack. Place in a sealed bag.
4. Hypothermic package After defrosting, it becomes ineffective and needs to be replaced.
What to do if the first aid kit is expired
Use expired products from your car first aid kit prohibited by law (clause 4.3 GOST R 57996-2022). The fine for late payment is the same as for the lack of a first aid kit: 500 rubles. But the main danger is not the fine, but the fact that:
- 💊 Tablets (analgin, coal) can decompose into toxic components.
- 🩹 Bandages and plasters lose sterility and become a source of infection.
- 🧤 Gloves made of nitrile, as they age, become covered with microcracks through which viruses (hepatitis, HIV) penetrate.
🔹 How to dispose of an expired first aid kit:
- Give pills and medicines to medication collection point (available in every pharmacy).
- Throw bandages, plasters and gloves into regular trash (they do not belong to medical waste).
- The tourniquet and scissors can be left if they are in good condition.
Fines for missing or incomplete first aid kit
According to Art. 12.5 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the absence of a first aid kit or its incompleteness is punishable by a fine of 500 rubles. However, in practice, traffic police inspectors rarely stop cars specifically to check the first aid kit - this usually happens:
- 🚔 When scheduled inspection (for example, at a stationary traffic police post).
- 🚨 After Road accident — the inspector is obliged to check the presence of a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
- 📋 When passing technical inspection (since 2026, not only availability, but also expiration dates are checked).
⚠️ Attention: If people were injured in an accident, but you did not have tourniquet or masks for artificial respiration, this can be regarded as failure to provide assistance (Article 125 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) with a fine of up to 40,000 rubles or correctional labor.
Where to buy a first aid kit and how much it costs
Ready-made kits that comply with GOST R 57996-2022 are sold in:
- 🚗 Auto shops ("AutoSpetsCenter", "I'll take it", "AutoEverything") - price 500–800 rubles.
- 💊 Pharmacies (networks «36,6», "Pharmacy from Warehouse") - 600–1200 rubles (often with additional medications).
- 🛒 Online (Wildberries, Ozon, AvtoDok) - 450–900 rubles (sets with an organizer bag are available).
🔹 What to look for when purchasing:
- 📦 The packaging should have hologram and the inscription “Complies with GOST R 57996-2022”.
- 📅 Expiration date all components - at least 1.5 years.
- 🔍 Check that tourniquet was individually packaged with instructions.
💰 Savings: You can assemble a first aid kit yourself - it will cost 20–30% less. But please note that individual components (for example, artificial respiration mask) at retail are more expensive than in a ready-made set.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the car first aid kit
❓ Do I need to carry a first aid kit if I have an MTPL policy?
🔹 Yes, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher are mandatory vehicle equipment according to traffic rules (clause 7.7), regardless of the availability of insurance. OSAGO covers damage to other participants in an accident, but does not relieve you from the obligation to provide first aid.
❓ Is it possible to replace a first aid kit with a first aid kit (for example, for the military)?
🔹 No. The set must strictly comply GOST R 57996-2022. Military or tourist first aid kits may contain prohibited drugs (for example, antibiotics) or may not have mandatory equipment (masks for artificial respiration).
❓ What to do if the first aid kit is out of adhesive plaster, but the rest is fine?
🔹 Buy the missing component and save the receipt. When checking the traffic police, present the receipt along with the first aid kit - this will confirm that you have restored the kit. But it is better to store all products in their original packaging.
❓ Do you need a first aid kit in a trailer or motorcycle?
🔹 For motorcycles A first aid kit is required (the same requirements as for cars). For trailers - no, but if you transport people in a country trailer, it is recommended to have at least a minimum set (bandages, plaster, tourniquet).
❓ Is it possible to store a first aid kit in the trunk?
🔹 Technically you can, but not advisable. In the trunk, the temperature can drop below −20°C in winter or rise above +50°C in summer, which spoils medicines and materials. Optimal place - glove compartment or seat back pocket.