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The Prisoner of War First Aid Safety Kit
| Introduction | Description | Introduction:The nearly 1.4 million American and Allied Prisoners of War in Germany and elsewhere were probably the most grateful beneficiaries of Red Cross services during World War 2. Many of them were lucky to return home alive because of the more than 27 million parcels prepared and shipped by the American Red Cross (ARC) to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, for distribution in the PW camps. Some 13,500 volunteers assembled the various packages in special centres in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and St. Louis. The first Prisoner of War packaging centre opened in Philadelphia in 1943.
Most of these goods were food packages of a uniform size (10” x 10” x 4 ½”) and weight (11 lb) that contained such non-perishable items
as prunes – raisins – liver pate – coffee – corned beef – sugar – dried milk – oleomargarine – biscuits –
orange concentrate – cheese – canned salmon or tuna fish – chocolate bars – cigarettes, and soap.
The “American Red Cross” provided, through the services of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), relief packages to help American PWs in enemy custody. These were sometimes equally distributed among other Allied prisoners, and in some cases helped ease the burden of civilian internees as well! Of course, it is known that in particular cases, more particularly toward the end of the war, these supplies were sometimes pilfered by the German guards or STALAG/OFLAG authorities and personnel. The present Article is meant to give a more detailed aspect of the Medical Relief Package distributed among U.S. Prisoners of War in enemy hands. | Top |
Description:
The official nomenclature of such kit was: Prisoner of War First Aid Safety Kit. Inside the cardboard box was a 12-page booklet, which was to remain with the kit. It held instructions for use of the enclosed medical products in five (5) different languages, i.e. ENGLISH * FRENCH * GERMAN * POLISH * YUGOSLAV. The Kit was supplied by the American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., and its reference was ARC 320, Rev. April 1944. The Cardboard Box (10” x 10” x 5 ¼”) was marked (top or side) as follows: AMERICAN RED CROSS – (Red Cross symbol) PRISONER OF WAR MEDICAL KIT NO.4 FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGH INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE (i.e. green block letters, except for the full Red Cross emblem).
The Medical Kit was designed to serve 100 men for a month or more. It contained practical, well-known remedies. Prisoners were invited to read the directions carefully and follow the instructions exactly. They were further instructed to avoid overdose, and secure the services of a physician whenever possible.
The official booklet, designated Prisoner of War First Aid Kit listed 14 medical items (without however specifying any numbers):
Remarks:
The following item is another type of “First Aid Safety Kit” provided by the “American Red Cross” for United States Prisoners of War and delivered through the services of the International Committee of the Red Cross. This particular relief package was prepared by Parke, Davis & Company, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. The official nomenclature of such kit was: First Aid Safety Kit. Inside the cardboard box was a 12-page booklet, which was not to be separated from the kit since it contained basic instructions for the use of the enclosed medical products. It held typewritten instructions in five (5) different languages, i.e. ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, POLISH, and YUGOSLAV. The narrow rectangular cardboard box (18” x 8” x 4”) was identified by a single white label (top) which read First Aid Safety Kit – American Red Cross – a small Red Cross – Parke, Davis & Company – Detroit, Mich., U.S.A. The cardboard sleeve also carried an identical white label at one end only.
List of Contents 1 x Absorbent Cotton (4 Ounces) > For sponging blood and cleansing the skin. Rolled into small pledgets it is especially useful for swabbing the eyes, nose, and throat. 2 x Phemerol Topical (1 Fluid Ounce) > An antiseptic and germicide; effective on minor cuts, abrasions and certain skin infections; uses similar to tincture of iodine. (2 x separate dropper covers). 2 x Gauze Sponge > A folded piece of gauze; useful as a swab to cleanse dirty wounds or as a sponge to absorb pus, blood, mucuous, etc. (replaced in box by 2 x Economy Pads, Absorbent Gauze 20/12, 3" x 3", 16 Plies). 1 x Adhesive Plaster (3 Inches by 5 Yards) > For holding dressings in place and to give support). 1 x Ready-Bandages (100 1-Inch Sterilized Ready-Bandages) > A ready-made adhesive compress for dressing small cuts and wounds. 1 x Sodium Bicarbonate (500 Compressed Tablets) > Taken internally for gastric acidity. Dose: 1 or more tablets. Used externally as a cleansing wash in infections, burns, hives, and skin diseases. 1 x Pill Compound Cathartic (500 Brown G.C. Pills) > A mild laxative. Dose: 1 or 2 pills. 2 x Yellow Oxide of Mercury Ointment (1/8 Ounce Tube) > An antiseptic ointment useful in eye infections. 1 x Boric Acid Powder (3 Ounces) > Solutions are useful as a dressing in burns, scalds and wounds; also as a dusting powder in skin diseases. Solutions are effective as eye lotions or as a wash for ear and nose infections. 4 x Blue Ointment (1 Ounce Tube) > An ointment for destroying “crab” lice; also effective in certain skin diseases. (also designated Mild Mercurial Ointment). 4 x Sulfur Ointment (1 Ounce Tube) > An ointment for parasitic skin diseases such as scabies ("the itch"). 1 x Tanexin (1 Ounce Tube) > A tannic acid jelly for the treatment of burns. Easily applied over burn areas. (also designated Tannic Acid Burn Ointment). 1 x Mycozol (1 Ounce Tube) > For the treatment of fungus skin diseases commonly referred to as "athlete’s foot", "ring worm", "dhobie itch", "summer itch", etc. (also designated Fungicide Ointment). 2 x Ammoniated Mercury (1 Ounce Tube) > An antiseptic ointment especially useful in certain skin diseases. 4 x Boric Acid (1 Ounce Tube) > An antiseptic ointment for burns, wounds, fissures, abrasions, etc. 2 x Aspirin (500 Compressed Acetylsalicylic Acid Tablets) > For relief of aches and pains (headache) and the reduction of fever. Dose: 5 to 15 grains; 1 to 3 tablets. 10 x Small Safety Pins 1 x Small Tweezers
As indicated in our introduction, another type of Relief Package was the one designated AMERICAN RED CROSS (Red Cross symbol) PRISONER OF WAR FOOD PACKAGE NO. 10
FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGH INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE.
Packing specifications requested that the individual package weigh not over 12 pounds, and that the shipping case not exceed 50 pounds, with good keeping quality under adverse storage conditions. Prisoners were invited to return a “Receipt for Prisoner of War Package NO. 10” to the American Red Cross (ref BR Form 1629, Rev. Oct. 1943). With help and support from the I.C.R.C., national Red Cross societies were able to arrange exchange of ill and severely-wounded prisoners, inspection of PW camps, and delivery of mail, food and medical packages. In addition to the above, special packages for invalids, Christmas packages, and printed bulletins (non-war events) were also sent to the prisoners. | Top |
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