Australian Paramedics Association backs calls for mandatory first aid kits

The Australian Paramedics Association (APA) has backed calls for first aid kits to be compulsory in cars.

Lisa Elmas, the South Coast woman who was first on scene at the tragic Boxing Day crash, is petitioning NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey to make fire extinguishers and first aid kits mandatory at vehicle registration in NSW.

Ms Elmas believes there is a lack of emergency response tools available to motorists who arrive before emergency services at crashes.

“First aid kits wouldn’t be a problem,” APA NSW vice president Glenn Congram said: “The two biggest things for safety are that everybody should be learning first aid and everybody should be carrying a first aid kit in their car.

“If there is a major bleed, put pressure on it. It’s always better to be first aid qualified, but anybody can use a first aid kit to hold a dressing on to stop some bleeding or blood spurting.”