US Army Field Dressings after WW2

Battle Dressings After World War II

DRESSINGS (June 1957)

US Army Water Canteen NBC Caps
Plastic Canteen M1 Cap

A dressing is a sterile pad, compress, sponge, or piece of material that is applied directly over a wound for the promotion of its proper healing. Since it is for use directly over an open wound, a dressing must be sterile; it must not only be clean in the ordinary sense of the word, but must be free of germs. Dressings are used to cover the wound and protect it from bacteria, to control bleed ing, to apply medication, to absorb excess moisture, and to con serve local heat.

The material most commonly used in the making of dressings is gauze. Sponges and compresses are made of gauze or of cotton wrapped in gauze. Dressings may be generally classi fied as standard dressings for field and hospital use, commercially prepared and packaged dressings, and improvised dressings. In the field, the most widely used dressing is the first-aid dressing, and will therefore be stressed in this chapter.

The small first-aid dressing is for individual troop use and for treatment of small wounds; the medium is carried by the aidman for emergency medi cal treatment; and the large is for use in aid stations, collecting stations, and clearing stations.

Standard Dressings for Field Use

a. Dressing, First-Aid, Field, Individual, Troop, 4 by 7 Inches; sterile; brown; (First-Aid Packet).

b. Dressing, First-Aid, Field, 4 by 7 inches; sterile; brown; (battle dressing).

c. Dressing, First-Aid, Field, 7 1/8 by 8 inches; sterile; brown; (battle dressing); with safety pins.

d. Dressing, First-Aid, Field, 11 3/4 Inches Square; sterile; brown; (battle dressing); with safety pins.

e. Compress and Bandage, gauze, field 18- by 22-inch compress; two rolls of bandage 6 inches by 6 yards; nonwoven fabric backing and bandage dyed for camouflage; sterile; in waterproof package; with safety pins.

f. Compress and Bandage, field, 22- by 36-inch compress; two rolls of bandage 6 inches by 6 yards; nonwoven fabric backing and bandage dyed for camouflage; sterile; in waterproof package; with safety pins.