A Closer Look Inside a Medic's Pouch

The Emergency Medical Tag

Each medic carried an EMT (Emergency Medical Tag) book in one of his canvas pouches . The Emergency Medical Tag was attached to the patient’s clothing, usually over the breast, or as near as possible to it for ease of reading by medical personnel. The Tag would be filled out by the frontline Medic and contained data covering the patient’s identity, arm or service, full diagnosis as well as treatment given, etc. This record helped medical personnel in the rear to know what had been done up front to help the wounded – meanwhile its contents were scrutinized in order to determine further treatment, if necessary . Carbon copies served to compile for the organization Commander a daily list of casualties and prepare the necessary reports and keep records . When soldiers were killed in action, the Medical Tag attached to the body would be removed by the medical personnel accompanying the burial party from the Graves Registration Service, it would then be forwarded, after removing the wire (early issue) or the tie (late issue) to the Chief Surgeon who was to transmit same, after recording the contents, to the Surgeon General’s Office. The carbon copies of the EMTs were assembled by the senior Medical Officer of each unit for due recording ! This is also explained in AR 40-1025 .

It should be further stated that in the course of medical treatment, proper additional entries are made on the Emergency Medical Tags of casualties treated at the Collecting Station . At the Clearing Station, the office clerk consolidates all Clearing Station Tags and compiles a checklist of sick and wounded . So here’s another Tag, which is filled out at time of admission by the clerk using an imprinting machine for name & serial number . The bottom section of the Clearing Station Tag (Section A-Admission) is torn off and sent to the Clearing Station Office . The top section of the tag (Section B-Disposition) is fastened to a button of the wounded soldier’s uniform, and remains with him until he has been treated and is ready for further evacuation or for return to his organization . Meanwhile, the Emergency Medical Tag is completely filled out and updated .

 REMARK

EMTs will further be subject to changes throughout WW2 . When looking at an original Book and Tag, one can tell that headings as well as contents may vary, let’s look at some of these documents :

(Above illustration showing Emergency Medical Tag Book, Medical Badge and Morphine Tartrate Syrette with cardboard box)

Different Variations in the Emergency Medical Tags

Types of Tourniquets Used During World   War II

Tourniquets of WWII

Tourniquets were primarily used to stop the severe discharge of blood from a ruptured blood vessel.

(Illustrations:from left to right; combined Tourniquet & Blunt Forceps; 2nd Pattern Tourniquet with padded buckle-braided line, Spanish Windlass Tourniquet; i.e. US Navy item)

Adhesive Plaster and Iodine Swabs

Adhesive Plaster was a sticky tape used to hold dressings and bandages-Iodine swabs were mainly used for skin sterilization on minor cuts and scratches.

(Illustrations:from left to right; spools of Adhesive Plaster and 6 iodine swabs in tubes with cardboard box, individual iodine swab and bandage scissors)

From L to R and horizontally: 1 X Curity Adhesive Tape, 3 –in x 5 yds, Bauer & Black, Division of The Kendall Co. Chicago, Made w/Formula 87, Dark Blue/White Cover, 1 X Curity Adhesive Tape, 3 in. x 5 yds., (Bauer & Black) Division of The Kendall Company – Chicago, Dark Blue/White Cover, 1 X Adhesive Plaster, "ZO", Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, N.J. – Chicago, Ill., 1. inch x 5 yards, Olive Drab Cover, 1 X Seamless Adhesive Plaster, Zinc Propionate-Zinc Caprylate, Esparadrapo, 1 inch x 5 yards, Olive Drab Cover, 1 X Adhesive Plaster, The Seamless Rubber Company, New Haven, Conn., 1-inch x 5 yds, SR 2504, w/ Yellow Box + Maroon Markings, 1 X Adhesive Plaster, The Seamless Rubber Company, New Haven, Conn., 1-inch x 5 yards, Yellow Spool w/o Cover, 1 X Adhesive Tape, 1 inch x 5 yards, prepared for US Government by (Bauer & Black) Division of The Kendall Company, Chicago, Ill., White/Black Spool w/o Cover, Field Brown Tape, 1 X Adhesive Plaster, Zinc Oxyde, The American White Cross Laboratories Inc., New Rochelle, N.Y., Cape Girardeau, Mo., 5 yds x ˝ inch, Blue/White/Red Cover, 1 X Adhesive Tape, "Fleshtape", The American White Cross Laboratories Inc., New Rochelle, N.Y., ˝ inch x 54 inches, Red/White/Blue Cover – Remark: Adhesive Plaster White 1" is Item #20340, Adhesive Plaster White 3" is Item #20350, Adhesive Plaster White 12" is Item #20355, Adhesive Plaster Field Brown 1" is Item #9209000

From L to R: 1 X Square Box No. 281, containing One Dozen Quarter Ounce Mercurochrome – General Antiseptic for First Aid, (H.W. & D. Brand of Merbromin, Dibromoxymercuriflorescein-Sodium, Red/White/Blue, 1 X Iodine Applicator, 2 cc, mfd by Davis Emergency Equipment Co. Inc., Newark, New Jersey, USA, w/Wooden Tube + Screw Top (Item #91118), 1 X Iodine Tincture, 10 cc Applicator Vial, Alcohol 44-50% / Iodine 1.8 – 2.2 w/V, mfd by Mine Safety Appliances Co., Braddock Thomas & Meade Sts., Pittsburgh, Pa., w/Cardboard Tube, 1 X Mercurochrome Amber-Colored Glass Bottle w/Screw Top, General Antiseptic for First Aid, 7 cc, mfg by Purex Products Inc., Baltimore, Md., USA – Remark: remaining Item numbers are unknown – any help is welcome - thanks

(Iodine Swabs – period 1940-1944 – from the collection of Alain Batens)

From Top to Bottom: 1 X Metal Container No. 1 w/12 Iodine Swabs, distributed by Conray Products Co., New York, N.Y., Mfg. by Handy Pad Supply Co., Worcester, Mass. (component of Individual Kit), 1 X Box w/6 Iodine Swabs, manufactured by Handy Pad Supply Co., Worcester, Mass. (component of Individual Kit), 1 X Box w/10 Iodine Swabs, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, N.J. and Chicago, Ill., distributed by Davis Emergency Equipment Co. Inc., Newark, N.J. (component of Motor Vehicle Kit) -

NOTE:: different manufacturers & different packing methods

First-Aid dressings, Ammonia Inhalants, Adhesive Compresses, Miscellaneous Tablets & Pills, etc.

(Triangular Bandages – period 1940-1944 – from the collection of Alain Batens)

From L to R and horizontally: 1 X 40 Inch Curity Economy Triangular Bandage, Bauer & Black, Division of The Kendall Co., Chicago, Ill. (component of Individual Kit), 1 X Field Brown Triangular Bandage (component of Individual Kit, w/o wrapping), 1 X Triangular Bandage, Unit No. 115A, packaged by Medical Supply Co., Rockford, Ill. (component of Motor Vehicle Kit), 1 X Triangular Bandage, 50 In. X 36 In. X 36 In., manufactured by Gerstein Bros. Mfg. Corp., New York, N.Y. (component of Individual Kit), 1 X 40 Inch Triangular Bandage, Cat. No. FA-2144, mfg by Mine Safety Appliances Co., Pittsburgh, Penna. (component of Motor Vehicle Kit), 1 X Triangular Bandage, 40 In., Unit No. 107, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, New Brusnwick, N.J., and Chicago, Ill., distributed by Davis Emergency Equipment Co. Inc., Newark, N.J. (component of Motor Vehicle Kit), 1 X Triangular Bandage, Clas II, manufactured by The American White Cross Laboratories Inc., New Rochelle, N.Y. and Cape Girardeau, Mo. (component of Individual Kit), 1 X Triangular Bandage, mfd by Acme Cotton Products Co. Inc., New York, N.Y. (component of Individual Kit) -

NOTE:: different manufacturers & different packing methods, another manufacturer was Millburn Mills Inc., New York, N.Y.

(Illustrations from left to right, Large First-Aid Dressing with box, Ammonia Inhalants with box, loose Ammonia inhalant in Tube, and Adhesive Compresses with box. Metal Container No. 1, Black Hard Rubber Vial for Atabrine Tablets, and seperate Aspirin & Anacin Tablets)

From L to R and horizontally: 2 Variable Contents - 1 X Metal Container No. 1, Olive Drab w/ Black Markings, containing 3 X Clear Glass Vials, Glass-Stoppered (Item #99610), 1 X Metal Container No. 1, Olive Drab w/ Black Markings, containing 12 X Iodine Swabs, 1 ˝ ccm, Mild Tincture Iodine, mfd by Raymer Pharmacal Co., Philadelphia, Pa. (Item #91120) and another manufacturer, Mild Tincture Iodine, mfg by Handy Pad Supply Co., Worcester, Mass. (Item #91120) – Remark: the above Item is a component of several Medical Canvas Pouches

TYPE I and TYPE II Canvas Inserts

From L to R and horizontally: 1 X Canvas Pouch (khaki color shade), 1 X Canvas Pouch (olive drab shade, please note the holder’s ASN° stenciled on front) + 1 X Cantle Ring Strap, 1 X Insert Type II w/o Lace (khaki color shade), 1 X Insert Type I w/Lace (darker color shade)

From L to R and horizontally: 2 X Litter Securing Straps (khaki color shade), 1 X Insert Type II w/ Lace + 6 X Hard Rubber Black Vials (khaki color shade), 1 X Insert Type I w/Lace + 1 X Flask w/Cup, 1 X Box w/6 X Iodine Swabs, 2 X Small Glass Bottles (last 2 items are not official), 2 X Litter Securing Straps (olive drab color shade) Remark: Litter Securing Strap is item #99386, major manufacturer is Guyot Bros. Co. Inc. of Attleboro, Mass.

(Illustrations from left to right; Canvas Pouch with laced Type I Insert (showing contents); Canvas Pouch with laced Type II Insert (showing contents)

Insert Type I w/Lace, Item #97070 (Period 1940-1944) – from the collection of Alain Batens

From L to R and horizontally: 1 X Amber Flask (Item #99255), 1 X Cup (Item #99260), 1 X Insert Type I w/Lace (Item #97070) + 1 X Clear Flask w/Cup (Item #99250) + 1 X Amber Glass Vial w/Screw Top (Item unknown) + 1 X Metal Container No. 1 (Item #97675) containing 12 X Iodine Swabs (Item #91120), 1 X Clear Flask w/o Cup (Item #99255), 1 X Box w/6 x 1 ˝ cc Iodine Swabs (Item #91120) – Remark: this Item is a component of the Private’s Medical (Right) Canvas Pouch

Cards of Safety Pins

Safety Pins were used to fasten dressings, to secure slings, to hold clothing, and to join or attach miscellaneous bandages.

(Safety Pins – period 1940-1944 – from the collection of Alain Batens)

From L to R and horizontally: 1 X Carton w/12 X Large Safety Pins (No. 3), Green Oak, De Long Hook & Eye Co., 1 X Carton w/12 X Large Safety Pins (3), Guarded Coil, Made by De Long, 1 X Paper Envelope w/10 Defender Steel Blanket Pins, Zinc Plated (size 6 – 3 inch), manufactured by Oakville Company Division Scovill Manufacturing Co., Waterbury, Conn., 1 X Carton w/12 X Large Safety Pins (3), 1 X Carton w/12 X Large Safety Pins (Brass-Nic. Plated, Guarded Coil type), manufactured by Oakville Company Division Scovill Manufacturing Co., 1 X Carton w/1 X Dozen Small Safety Pins (style A), Rust-Proof Brass, The Risdon Mfg. Co., Naugatuck, Conn., 1 X Medium Paper Envelope w/6 X Large Safety Pins, (no indications), 1 X Carton w/9 X Medium Safety Pins (No. 2), Steel, Oakville Company Division Scovill Manufacturing Co., Waterbury, Conn., 1 X Carton w/9 X Large Safety Pins (No. 3), Steel, Oakville Company Division Scovill Manufacturing Co., Waterbury, Conn. -

NOTE:: different manufacturers & different packing methods, and different number of pins

From L to R and horizontally: 1 X Morphine Syrettes & 1 X Iodine Applicator, distributed by Conray Products Co., New York City, USA, packed in white cardboard box with d. blue markings (Six (6) Syrettes w/ Solution of Morphine Tartrate and One Iodine Applicator) – contents: under above item are illustrated the separate yellow box with red markings holding 6 X Morphine Syrettes, 1.5 cc., Poison, mfd by E.R. Squibb & Sons, New York, as well as the separate Iodine Applicator, 2 cc., mfd by Davis Emergency Equipment Co. Inc., Newark, New Jersey, packed in a wooden tube + screw top (both fit in the first box) – 1 X Morphine Syrettes, mfd by E.R. Squibb & Sons, New York, Made in USA, packed in a yellow (faded) box with red markings (5 Syrettes, 1.5cc., Size, Poison, w/ Solution of Morphine Tartrate, Control: 2J 47125) – contents: 5 X Syrettes (component of Medical Off Kit) – 1 X Morphine Syrette, mfd by E.R. Squibb & Sons, New York, USA, packed in individual yellow cardboard box with red markings (1 Syrette, 1.5 cc., ˝ Grain) – 1 X Morphine Syrette, Burroughs, Wellcome & Co., mfd by The Wellcome Foundation Ltd., London 49002/2/44, A ‘Sescot’ Container, "Monoject" Ampoule Syringe containing ˝ Gr. Morphine Hydrochloride, packed in individual yellow cardboard box with red markings – 1 X Morphine Syrette, mfd by E.R. Squibb & Sons, New York, USA, packed in individual yellow cardboard box with red markings – Remark: lower 2 individual boxes and lowest syrette are replica items – please note references: Six (6) Morphine Syrettes, Item unknown, 5 Syrettes is Item #91155, 1 Morphine Syrette is Item #91157

Description: 1 X Atropine Injection, contains Atropine Tartrate, equivalent to 2 mg (1/32 gr.) of Atropine Sulfate per cc., for use in Nerve Gas Poisoning only, Sterile, mfd by E.R. Squibb & Sons, New York, ref. 58 205A, packed in green rectangular cardboard box with white markings – contents: 4 X Syrettes, 1 cc. Each Solution – Remark: I’m not sure this is a WW2 item – if anyone can help – he’s most welcome !

Please email me with any comments mailto:steinert@worldnet.att.net David Steinert © Copyright 2000