10 Essential items you need in a Motorhome or car first aid kit (Europe)

Car First Aid Kit- things to pack in your car first aid kit for France and Europe

Planning to visit France or Europe in your motorhome? Need to put together a car first aid kit? Wondering what the 10 essential items are in any first aid kit and want to comply with European law?

Here’s everything you need to know.


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Do you need a Motorhome or car first aid kit when driving in France?

Yep.

It’s that simple. It’s the law that you carry a first aid kit when driving in France, in any vehicle.

Here is all the other essential kit you need to carry when driving in France & Europe.


Why are there European First Aid Kit requirements for car first aid kits?

Across Europe, many countries uphold the ‘Good Samaritan Law’, which makes it mandatory for you to stop and help someone in the event of an accident.

This is a REALLY touchy subject, especially in these fun days of excessive litigation, but as the law stands right now, especially in France, you can be prosecuted for NOT stopping to help at an accident.

Apparently, according to Motoring in Europe, the current fine for NOT helping could extend to 5 YEARS imprisonment and 50,000€!!!!

So let’s just agree that you need to take a first aid kit with you when you road trip France and Europe.


What is the essential medical kit to cover the European First Aid requirements?

Here’s where it gets really fun- there are NO exact requirements on what you need to carry in the first aid kit. You just need one which complies with EU regulations.

Having said that, most of the European approved first aid kits have near enough the same contents. The contents are regulated by an EU number called DIN13164- make sure your kit complies to this.

For motorcyclists, the kit is DIN13167- I have no idea what the difference is- both kits seem to contain very similar things.


What kit do I need to carry in my camper or car first aid kit?

This is the list from the AA First Aid Kit, which is DIN13164 compliant. As I said previously, all other varieties are very similar. If you’re making up your own kit, here are the 10 essentials items to include in a car first aid kit:

  • 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)

You can get all this kit in the AA car first aid kit here: 


Other things which we include in our RV or car medical kit:

  • antiseptic (we have individual wipes and a tube of Savlon)
  • painkillers (nurofen & paracetamol)
  • wound-cleaning gauze
  • plasters of various sizes
  • Spray plaster
  • tweezers
  • nail clippers
  • thermometer (if you have kids- we haven’t used ours for years!)
  • Child-friendly medicines, like Calpol
  • Bonjela for mouth ulcers
  • antihistamines/ hayfever tablets
  • Suntan lotion (include different strengths as required)
  • Aftersun treatment
  • Voltarol or similar for pain relief
  • Deep heat spray (miracle worker!)
  • insect repellent- if you find one which works, please let me know!!
  • insect bite treatment – ditto above!
  • Safety pins
  • Eye-wash kit
  • Anti-blister kits or stuff to put in shoes which are rubbing- so useful if you’re doing a lot of hiking
  • medication for pre-existing medical conditions
  • Cough medicine
  • Vaporub
  • Antiseptic throat spray
  • Throat Lozenges
  • Imodium
  • Windeze
  • Sudafed
  • SPARE GLASSES- especially if you need them for driving

Not all of these need to be stored in your first-aid kit pack, but make sure they’re stored securely so they don’t rattle around.  (We HATE motorhome rattles!)

Here are some storage box options:


Do you need a breathalyzer when driving in France?

Nope. 

The French put it out as a law several years ago… and then quietly removed the law. 

It’s still doing the rounds, but no, you do NOT need to carry a breathalyser when driving in France in a motorhome, camper, car, motorbike or any other vehicle!


Check your medication

Before you leave, please check you have enough medication for your road trip. If you take large amounts of medication overseas, make sure you have a letter explaining what it is and why you need it.

Looking for essential Motorhome kit to take on your Road Trip? 

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Do you know the 10 essential items you need in a car or RV first aid kit? Or how to pack a DIY first aid kit for road trip travelling? Here's what you need to know to comply with the law when travelling in France or Europe in a car, motorhome or need a camper first aid kit. Travel tips | Travel first aid kit | Motorhome Travel | Road Trip tips | Road trip Kit | Road trip planning | Europe Road Trip | Car first aid kit | Car travel

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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3 Comments

  1. Hey bit of a random one but I find just dabbling a bit of lavender oil straight from the essential oil bottle works great of bites, stops them itching straight away. By means of deterrent for the pesky invertebrates got a tip off from an ex royal marine that you should use Avon so soft spray, apparently it works miracles, yet to try it but gonna give it a go.

  2. Afton Jackson says:

    I appreciate that bringing a thermometer for kids is nice. We would like to know more as newlyweds on what to store on a first-aid kit pack. We will need some tips for a kid with heart problems and where to get pediatric CPR.

  3. Justin williams says:

    Two things I add to my First Aid Kit:
    Neosporin – First Aid Antibiotic Ointment and my family all use it. It’s US based (No1 brand there) but can be purchased on Amazon. See online. It really works.
    Then we recommend Incognito for repelling insects. Excellent reviews and my family have used it for years now. They use natural ingredients and NOT Deet which looks toxic and awful
    smell. They do a range of sprays and creams to just repel insects or with suncream and moisturiser etc. Obv I don’t sell it and needs you to decide from your research but I use these regularly.

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