Why DIN 14142 exists
Before DIN 14142 was standardised, every fire brigade in Austria and Germany filled emergency backpacks based on local preference, budget and tradition. In a real emergency, that meant firefighters from neighbouring districts arriving with entirely different equipment — and losing precious seconds figuring out where kit contained what. DIN 14142 fixed that. It defines minimum contents, packaging, labelling, and maintenance requirements so that any trained firefighter can grab any DIN-compliant backpack and know exactly where each module sits.
Inspection note
Annual checks are mandatory
Every fire department backpack must be inspected at least once per year. Inspection logs must be kept for a minimum of 3 years and be available for audit by the Landesfeuerwehrverband inspector.
Required contents
The DIN 14142 standard groups required items into five functional modules. Each module is colour-coded and labelled so that any firefighter can locate it under pressure.
1. Bleeding control module (red)
- 3× sterile compress, 10 × 10 cm
- 2× trauma dressing, 12 × 9 cm
- 1× haemostatic gauze roll, 1 m haemostatic gauze roll
- 2× tourniquet (CAT Gen 7 or equivalent)
- 2× elastic bandage, 10 cm × 4 m
2. Airway management module (blue)
- 1× pocket mask with O₂ inlet
- 2× Guedel airways (sizes 3, 4)
- 1× bag valve mask (adult)
- 1× suction device (manual)
- 2× elastic bandage, 10 cm × 4 m
1. Bleeding control module (red)
- 3× sterile compress, 10 × 10 cm
- 2× trauma dressing, 12 × 9 cm
- 1× haemostatic gauze roll, 1 m haemostatic gauze roll
- 2× tourniquet (CAT Gen 7 or equivalent)
- 2× elastic bandage, 10 cm × 4 m
2. Airway management module (blue)
- 1× pocket mask with O₂ inlet
- 2× Guedel airways (sizes 3, 4)
- 1× bag valve mask (adult)
- 1× suction device (manual)
- 2× elastic bandage, 10 cm × 4 m
2. Airway management module (blue)
- 1× pocket mask with O₂ inlet
- 2× Guedel airways (sizes 3, 4)
- 1× bag valve mask (adult)
- 1× suction device (manual)
- 2× elastic bandage, 10 cm × 4 m
A well-organised backpack is not a luxury — it’s the difference between a 60-second response and a 3-minute fumble. In cardiac arrest, that difference is a life.
Contents by norm
DIN 14142 is the baseline, but different norms apply depending on your department’s role:
- DIN 14142 — standard fire brigade backpack, most Austrian and German fire departments
- ÖNORM Z1020 — public building first-aid equipment, schools, offices, sports halls
- DIN 13164 — motor vehicle first-aid kit, basic, not for fire brigade use
- DIN 13157 — workplace first-aid kit, construction and industry
How often to check
The Landesfeuerwehrverband OÖ and equivalent bodies in other federal states require annual inspection. We recommend a practical cadence:
- After every deployment: quick check, replace anything used
- Monthly: visual check for expired items, moisture damage, broken seals
- Annually: full inventory audit against DIN 14142 checklist, documented and signed
- Every 3 years: full module replacement cycle, even unused items degrade
After every deployment, the backpack must be fully restocked before being returned to service. Partial restocking is a common failure point during inspections — and a serious risk if the next call comes in before restock is complete.
