The first 15 minutes count: why Vos Logistics has First15 Life Saving Kits in its trucks

Hundreds of Vos Logistics drivers travel through the Benelux every day. They experience a lot on the road and sometimes encounter situations where quick action is important. Until last year, in such cases they could mainly observe and call the emergency services. Since September 2023, something else has been added: every Vos Logistics Benelux Distribution vehicle now has a First15 Life Saving Kit.

This kit is intended as additional support alongside the usual first aid kit. It gives drivers – when they want and when the situation allows – the opportunity to do something extra while waiting for professional help to arrive.

Knowledge and resources at your fingertips

"The three biggest dangers are not necessarily the most common ones," says Peter van Dijk, QHSE coordinator / Head of Emergency Response at Vos Logistics. "The chance of a collision with a truck or internal transport equipment on our premises is small, but the consequences can be significant. In addition, our drivers encounter many situations on the road in their work. That is why we felt it was valuable to provide them with materials that can make a difference in the first few minutes after an incident."

The standard first aid kit is mainly suitable for minor injuries. For more serious situations – such as stopping heavy bleeding – the First15 kit can offer a solution. It has been developed for those critical first few minutes when every bit of support counts.

Part of the emergency response strategy

Within the emergency response organisation, there had long been a desire to be better prepared for serious incidents. "To do that, you need not only knowledge, but also the right equipment," says Van Dijk. Vos Logistics came into contact with the First15 concept through QRS. "Its contents and design are well aligned with our safety ambitions. Our emergency response officers have now been trained in its use, and we include it as standard in our regular training courses."

Because the kit was in line with the safety vision, it was decided to also place it in the vehicles. There are now approximately 175 kits in the trucks and the emergency response bags are equipped with them.

Drivers positive about the addition

The introduction of the kits was positively received by drivers. "The kit is not only intended for use if something happens to one of our employees; they can also use it in incidents they see while on the road. This raises awareness: people have access to potentially life-saving medical equipment. No one hopes to ever need the kit, but it's a comforting thought that it's there, even if you yourself were to be the victim."

In one situation, a driver offered his kit during a CPR that was already in progress. The rescue blanket and mask were taken out, but the emergency services arrived quickly, so they were not needed in the end. The availability of the equipment at that moment was greatly appreciated.

Practical implementation

During the roll-out, drivers received written instructions. "Using the tourniquet is fairly intuitive, but of course there were questions," says Van Dijk. With a shelf life of five years, management is straightforward. If a kit is used, it can easily be replaced.

QRS as a partner

According to Vos Logistics, the collaboration with QRS played a major role in the smooth implementation. "Without them, this would have been more difficult. They think along with us and help to make solutions quickly applicable," says Van Dijk.

A broader meaning

For Vos Logistics, the introduction of First15 underlines the value it attaches to safety – both at its own locations and on the road. "A lot of kilometres are covered in our sector," says Van Dijk. "It feels good to not only focus on the transport of goods, but also to consider situations where you can contribute something – if possible and when it is safe to do so."