The PRISONER of WAR FIRST AID SAFETY KIT

(submitted by Alain Batens)

(Last updated December 11th 2002)

The American Red Cross provided, through the services of the International Red Cross Committee (Geneva, Switzerland), relief packages to help American POWs in enemy custody . These were sometimes equally distributed among Allied prisoners, and in some cases helped ease the burden of civilian internees ! Of course, it is known that in particular cases, these medical supplies were sometimes pilfered by the German guards or STALAG/OFLAG authorities and personnel .

The official nomenclature of such kit was: Prisoner of War First Aid Safety Kit – Instructions in five languages for use of enclosed medical products – ENGLISH * FRENCH * GERMAN * POLISH * YUGOSLAV – Do Not Separate From Kit – The American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., 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) PRISONER OF WAR MEDICAL KIT No.4 – FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGH – INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE (i.e. green capital letters, except for the full Red Cross emblem) .

Basic Contents

(though they sometimes varied) were listed inside, and included directions for use:

2 X Acid, Acetylsalicylic, Tablet (500 x Aspirin Tablets)    (item #10100) for relief of aches, headache & reduction of fever

1 X Compound, Cathartic, Pill (500 x Pills)       (item #11505) for laxative

2 X Sodium, Bicarbonate , Tablet (500 x Tablets)         (item #14150) for gastric acidity    

2 X Yellow, Mercuric Oxide, Ointment (1/4 Oz. Tube)      (item #12750) for antiseptic treatment of eye infection

4 X Acid, Boric, Ointment (1 Oz. Tube)       (item #91010) for antiseptic treatment of burns, wounds, fissures & abrasions

2 X Acid, Salicylic, Ointment (1 Oz. Tube)       (item #91015) for fungus infection & "athlete’s foot"

1 X Iodium – Pot – Iodid (10 Tubes)   (item #91110) for treatment of cuts, abrasions, & wounds treatment

2 X Mercuric Ointment, Ammoniated (1 Oz. Tube)      (item #91145) for antiseptic treatment of skin diseases

2 X Powder, Insecticide (2 Oz. Metal Can)    (item #91108) for destruction of body, head, or crab lice, for prevention of chigger & tick bites

4 X Sulfur Ointment (1 Oz. Tube    (item #91215) for parasitic treatment of skin diseases

1 X Absorbent, Cotton (1 Oz.)      (item #20130) for sponging blood & cleansing skin, for swabbing eyes, nose & throat

1 X Adhesive, Gauze, Bandage (100 x Adhesives 1" x 3" in single box) (item #92000) for dressing small cuts and wounds

6 X Gauze, Plain, Sterilized, Compressed (1/2 yd x 36")    (item #20240) for dressing wounds, abrasions, burns & cuts

1 X Tape, Adhesive (3" x 5-yds)       (item #20340) for holding dressings & to give support

(Prisoner of War First Aid Safety Kit – period 1944 – the parts illustrated are from the collection of Alain Batens)

From L to R and horizontally: 1 X Case, Prisoner of War Medical Kit No. 4 (empty), 1 X Case, Prisoner of War Medical Kit No. 4 (full), Remark: top case has green markings on one of the sides, whereas the lower item has markings on top, on one of the closing flaps; the Red Cross emblem is highly visible

Remark: additional items e.g. 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 US PWs ! I meanwhile acquired another similar type designated American Red Cross – Prisoner of War Food Package No. 10 – for distribution through International Red Cross Committee  . It may be interesting to note that the most grateful beneficiaries of the war effort provided by Volunteer Workers of the A.R.C. were certainly the nearly 1.4 million US and Allied Prisoners of War held in Germany and elsewhere – many of them were able to return home alive mainly because of the more than 27 million Food and Medical Packages prepared and shipped to the warehouses of the Geneva-based International Committee of The Red Cross by the American Red Cross ! Through the I.R.C.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 … according to the Quartermaster Foundation, the American Red Cross asked the Quartermaster Corps for a suitable Food Package for Prisoners of War . The specification, produced in cooperation with the relief organization, listed following food items : Army spread, canned bacon, luncheon meat, salmon, dehydrated corned beef, canned cheese product, soluble coffee, powdered whole milk, chocolate D bars, as well as toilet paper, soap, paper towels, can openers – a sundry unit included buttons, needles, thread, and patching cloth – also vitamin capsules, salt, and tobacco were included in a can . Packing directions provided 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 … If anyone can help with more data on the subject of PW Packages - kindly contact the Webmaster who will forward the information to the author – thank you .

(Prisoner of War Food Package - period 1944-1945 - from the collection Alain Batens)

American Red Cross Prisoner of War Food Package No. 10, International Red Cross Committee (empty box)

Philadelphia ARC Workers

Receipt Postcard (front/back)

Please email me with any comments mailto:steinert@worldnet.att.net David Steinert © Copyright 2001