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Road accidents: what to keep in your car and how to be ready to help

Car ready for an accident: a practical guide

⏱ 2 min read

Kit, first aid, ICE contact. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

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You cannot plan for a road accident, but you can prepare your car and yourself. The first minutes after a crash often decide the health of the injured, and help usually starts with drivers who are already there.

Most of this costs less than a tank of fuel.

Car equipment

  1. Rules differ in Europe. In Germany a warning triangle, first aid kit and hi-vis vest are required; in Poland a fire extinguisher and warning triangle. Check the rules of every country you drive through.
  2. A car first aid kit with gloves, dressings and a foil blanket, even where it is not required.
  3. A hi-vis vest for every passenger, within reach, not in the boot.
  4. A torch and a seatbelt cutter with a window breaker.

Phone and data

  1. Save an ICE (in case of emergency) contact on your phone and turn on access to medical information from the lock screen. Paramedics will learn about conditions, allergies and medicines faster.

Skills

  1. A first aid course is most often useful on the road. It is worth knowing how to make the scene safe, how to check breathing, and when to move someone out of a car and when not to.

On the road

  1. On longer journeys take water, snacks, a charger and a blanket. In winter also a shovel and an ice scraper. Plan a break every two hours: tiredness is a common cause of crashes.

Checklist

  1. Warning triangle and required kit for your country
  2. Car first aid kit
  3. Hi-vis vests within reach
  4. Torch and seatbelt cutter
  5. ICE contact and medical data on your phone
  6. A first aid course
  7. Water and a blanket for long trips

See also

Frequently asked questions

What must I carry in my car in Germany?

A warning triangle, a first aid kit and a hi-vis vest.

What must I carry in my car in Poland?

A fire extinguisher and a warning triangle. A first aid kit and vests are not required but strongly recommended.

What is an ICE contact?

The number of a person paramedics can call in an emergency. Save it on your phone and in the medical information shown on the lock screen.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.