The Prisoner of War First Aid Safety Kit

Illustration showing two types of Prisoner of War Kits. Shown above are both Kit No. 4 and Kit No. 10.

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.

Close up shot of the printed text on the outer cardboard container of a No. 4 package.

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.
Other packages consisted of precious medical supplies, while some also held clothing, toilet articles, seeds and gardening materials.
American prisoners regularly received those relief packages in the PW camps located in Europe, but those in the Pacific Theaters did not due to the lack of Japanese cooperation.

The illustration above shows an alternative layout for the Prisoner of War Medical Kit No. 4. The printed location differs from the one shown above, although the dimensions are identical.

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.

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Description:

Photograph showing the enclosed Instruction Sheet. The different languages of the booklet are shown on the front cover.

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).

Close up image showing details on the front of the 12-page instruction booklet, enclosed in every package and available in a number of different languages.

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.

Contents of the Prisoner of War First Aid Kit shown laid out (see tentative list further below).

The official booklet, designated Prisoner of War First Aid Kit listed 14 medical items (without however specifying any numbers):

Acid Acetylsalicylic (Aspirin 5 Gr.)
Compound Cathartic Pill
Sodium Bicarbonate (5 Gr.)
Mercuric Oxide, Yellow, Ointment
Salicylic Acid Ointment
Iodine
Mercuric Ointment, Ammoniated
Insecticide Powder
Boric Acid Ointment
Sulfur Ointment
Absorbent Cotton
Adhesive Gauze Bandage
Gauze, Sterile
Adhesive Plaster

Here follows a tentative list of basic contents (we have tried to reproduce such a box by preparing a certain number of items that appropriately fit the box) with indication of directions for use:

4 x Gauze, Plain, Sterilized, Compressed (1/2 yd x 36”)	For dressing wounds, abrasions, burns, and cuts.
1 x Compound, Cathartic, Pill (500 x Pills)	For laxative. Dose: 1 or 2 pills.
2 x Acid, Acetylsalicylic, Tablet (500 x Aspirin Tablets)	For relief of aches, headache, and the reduction of fever. Dose: 1 to 3 tablets every 4 hours as necessary.
12 x Bandages, Gauze, Roller, Plain (2” x 6 yds in single box)	For holding dressings or splints in place.
2 x Powder, Insecticide (2 Oz. Metal Can)	For destruction of body, head, or crab lice, for prevention of chigger and tick bites.
4 x Acid, Boric, Ointment (1 Oz. Tube)	For antiseptic treatment of burns, wounds, fissures, abrasions, etc.
2 x Sodium, Bicarbonate , Tablet (500 x Tablets)	For gastric acidity. Dose: 1 or more tablets.
4 x Acid, Boric, Ointment (1 Oz. Tube)	For antiseptic treatment of burns, wounds, fissures, abrasions, etc.
2 x Acid, Salicylic, Ointment (1 Oz. Tube)	For use in fungus infection, and “athlete’s foot.”
2 x Mercuric Ointment, Ammoniated (1 Oz. Tube)	For antiseptic treatment of skin diseases.
4 x Sulfur Ointment (1 Oz. Tube)	For parasitic treatment of skin diseases.
1 x Adhesive, Bandage, Sterile (100 x Adhesives 1” x 3” in single box – Band-Aid)	For dressing small cuts and wounds.
2 x Plaster or Tape, Adhesive (3” x 5 yds)	For holding dressings and to give support.
6 x Gauze, Plain, Sterilized, Compressed (Two 1/2 yard lengths of gauze)	For dressing wounds, abrasions, burns, and cuts.
2 x Absorbent, Cotton (1 Oz.)	For sponging blood and cleansing the skin, for swabbing the eyes, nose, and throat.

Remarks:
Additional items such as Safety Pins, Forceps, Scissors, Soap, and miscellaneous Bandages, Pads, Sponges and Disinfectants were sometimes also included. The above Kit NO. 4 is probably one among a larger series of similar kits (but with different contents and numbers) distributed to U.S. Prisoners of War! It might be interesting to try and learn whether other Packages were available during WW2, and how they were numbered or identified.

View illustrating the different components of the packing box used for the First Aid Safety Kit - American Red Cross.

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.

Top view of the Prisoner Of War First Aid Safety Kit, manufactured by Parke Davis & Company, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., on behalf of the American Red Cross.

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

Close up image showing the printed text on the outer cardboard container of a Prisoner of War Food Package No. 10.

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.
According to the “Quartermaster Foundation”, the American Red Cross asked the Quartermaster Corps for a suitable Food Package destined for Prisoners of War. The basic specification, produced in cooperation with the relief organization, listed a number of potential food items, as well as accessories such as paper towels, can openers, vitamin capsules, salt, and tobacco, and even a sundry unit including buttons, needles, thread, and patching cloth.

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.

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