A motorcycle first aid kit does not need to be large, but it should cover the two problems riders meet most often on the road: grazes after a fall and burns from touching a hot exhaust. This guide lists what to pack, the basic first aid steps from the NHS (the UK public health service), how to store the kit on a scooter in hot and humid weather, and the emergency number now in use in Vietnam. It is basic first aid information, not a substitute for medical care.
Quick answer
Table of contents12
- Core items: plasters, sterile gauze and dressing pads, a crepe bandage, surgical tape, saline, disposable gloves, scissors, tweezers, and a roll of cling film for burns.
- Exhaust burn: cool it under cool running water for 20 minutes; no creams, oils or butter; do not burst blisters.
- Grazes: press to stop bleeding, rinse with clean water, cover with a sterile dressing.
- Emergency in Vietnam: call 113. Since 1 November 2026, requests for medical help made to 113 are passed to medical staff on duty at the call centre.
Where a kit is mandatory for motorcyclists
In Vietnam, we found no text requiring motorbike riders to carry a first aid kit, so this article makes no claim either way. The main reason to carry one is to handle small injuries yourself on stretches far from a clinic.
If you also ride in Europe: according to the overview by ÖAMTC, the Austrian motoring club, a first aid kit is the only item motorcyclists must carry in Austria; it is also mandatory in Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic; in Slovenia it applies only to motorcycles registered there. Rules change, so check again before you travel.
Core contents of a compact kit
The list below is drawn from the basic first aid kit suggested by healthdirect, the Australian government-funded health information service, narrowed to what suits a motorbike trip:
| Group | Items | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Dressings | Adhesive plasters, sterile dressing pads and gauze, crepe bandage, triangular bandage, surgical tape | Grazes, cuts, a sling |
| Cleaning | Saline tubes, sterile wipes | Rinsing wounds and eyes |
| Tools | Scissors, tweezers, disposable gloves, safety pins, a rubbish bag | Cutting dressings, removing small loose debris, hygiene |
| Burns | Cling film, a bottle of clean water | Cooling and covering a burn |
| Other | Shock blanket, notepad and pen, a first aid leaflet | Keeping warm, noting details when calling for help |
For medicines, bring what you take on prescription and what you already know you tolerate. This article does not recommend specific medicines; ask a doctor or pharmacist before the trip.
Road rash after a fall: NHS first aid
- Stop the bleeding: press on the wound with a bandage or a clean folded cloth.
- Clean it: rinse with bottled or tap water, or use sterile wipes.
- Something stuck in the wound: do not pull it out; press firmly on either side of it.
- Cover it: once the bleeding has stopped, apply a plaster or sterile dressing, keep it clean and dry, and change it as needed.
The NHS says to go to A&E if the bleeding will not stop, the wound is very large or deep, or something is stuck in it; and to get urgent medical advice if it is still dirty after cleaning, or becomes swollen, red, more painful or starts to ooze pus. Road rash often carries grit and sand, so take the “still dirty” warning seriously.
Minor exhaust burns: cool for 20 minutes
The exhaust is very hot after riding, and a bare calf is what usually touches it when getting on or off. The NHS steps:
- Cool it at once: hold the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, as soon as possible and ideally within 3 hours. Without a tap, use cool bottled water or a wet towel.
- Remove items: take off clothing or jewellery near the burn, but not anything stuck to the skin.
- Cover it: after cooling, lay cling film over the burn; do not wrap it around the leg.
- Avoid: creams, oils or butter; plasters or sticky dressings; bursting blisters.
The NHS says to call for emergency help if the burn is very large or deep, is on the face, genitals or bottom, or was caused by a chemical or electricity, and not to drive yourself to hospital. Shoes that cover the ankle and long trousers prevent this burn in the first place.
Heat, humidity and storage on a scooter
healthdirect advises keeping a kit somewhere dry and easy to reach, checking it after each use or at least every 12 months, and making sure items are in date and sterile items are still sealed. ÖAMTC adds that there is no single expiry date for a whole kit, but sterile gauze stays sterile only while its packaging is intact.
- Against humidity: put the whole kit in a dry bag or zip bag; replace dressings whose packaging is wet or torn.
- Where to keep it: the under-seat compartment is handy and enclosed, but it can get very hot when the scooter is parked in the sun; carry personal medicines on you or store them as the pack says. See also our guide to the motorcycle top box for scooters.
- Everyone knows where it is: in a group, tell everyone which bike and which pocket holds the kit.
For packing in general, see scooter luggage, bags and strapping.
Emergency number in Vietnam and medical documents
Under Circular 42/2026/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health (signed on 31 October 2026, in force from 1 November 2026), all requests for medical help made to 113 are routed to medical staff on duty at the 113 call centre, who coordinate pre-hospital emergency care. The familiar ambulance number used to be 115; the sources we read do not say whether 115 still takes calls during the changeover, so call 113.
- When you call: give the location clearly (road name, kilometre marker, nearest landmark), the number of injured people and their condition. Ask a local person to speak if you do not speak Vietnamese.
- Medical documents: carry a copy of your passport, your travel insurance details, your blood group, a list of medicines you take and any allergies, in your wallet or the outer pocket of the kit.
When you pick up a bike at Mr Tú – Old Quarter Motorbike Rental, save the shop’s phone number and 113 in your contacts before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
Is a first aid kit mandatory on a motorbike in Vietnam?
We found no text requiring it and make no claim either way. Some European countries, such as Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, do require one on motorcycles.
What should I do right away for an exhaust burn?
Hold the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, remove nearby clothing that is not stuck, then cover it with cling film. Do not use creams, oils or butter, and do not burst blisters.
What is the emergency number in Vietnam?
Call 113. Under Circular 42/2026/TT-BYT, from 1 November 2026 requests for medical help made to 113 are passed to medical staff on duty for coordination.
How long do dressings in a first aid kit last?
Check the date on each item. Sterile items stay sterile only while the packaging is intact; check the kit after each use or at least once a year.
Sources, checked on 12 November 2026: NHS, burns and scalds treatment (reviewed 31 March 2026); NHS, cuts and grazes (reviewed 2 April 2026); healthdirect, first aid kits (reviewed December 2024); ÖAMTC, mandatory equipment for motorcyclists in Europe; ÖAMTC, checking a first aid kit (12 November 2026); Can Tho legal information portal, Circular 42/2026/TT-BYT.
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