Post by Schwerpunkt on Sept 25, 2014 17:45:55 GMT -5
Due to a request, here is a short piece on my approach to reenacting the U.S. Army combat medic in the MTO and ETO. For those interested in further information there are a wealth of sources out there on the internet to include reenactment and historical forums, unit websites, and youtube. One of my favorites is med-dept.com and the attached forums. Also, I highly recommend a familiarization in actual first aid techniques and anatomy.
As an aid man with a line unit you basically have two major responsibilities. To treat and evacuate battle casualties and to oversee the hygiene and well being of the troops in your platoon. To oversimplify, you carry mostly bandages, sulfa drugs, morphine, toilet paper, and foot powder. You also carry stuff to treat minor injuries and complaints and items simply to maintain morale like cigarettes and candy.
The following are some of the equipment and medical supplies I carry in my aid bags and on my person. It is intended to represent what I would generally consider a minimum for functionally portraying a junior enlisted medic. I apologize for the mediocre quality of the pictures.
To begin with, two Red Cross brassards, one of which I wear on my arm and a spare.
Next and more importantly, my Geneva Convention I.D card that identifies me as a non-combatant. This I keep in my breast pocket.
Now, beginning the contents of my aid bag is a medical instrument case (center) containing bandage scissors, tweezers, and curved 5'' hemostats. I also have a small pocket knife, pencil and notebook, and roll of adhesive medical tape.
A representation of the types of dressings I typically carry along with a tourniquet. The quantities will not be discussed here. Shown are the medium and small type Carlisle bandages in both paper packets and metal tin which I produce for my own use. They contain a facsimile cloth bandage and packet of sulfanilamide powder. Also show are plain rolls of gauze bandage, a triangular camouflage bandage, and a small roll of camouflage gauze.
For this various kinds of medications carried, small brown glass bottles of this type are both practical, easy to obtain, and period looking. Asprin and some calcium carbonate (antacid) are good to have for your impressions and for real life. Also good for small bottle of alcohol for disinfectant.
These are morphine syrettes which I reproduced to replicate wartime British manufactured syrettes of Morphine Hydrochloride.
Contrary to they way portrayed in the movies, Morphine was not administered by simply jamming the syrette into someone through their clothes. Although the injection could be administered through a thin layer of clothing in a pinch, this was neither the ideal method nor the one medics were trained to employ. As pictured below, a small mound of skin was built up to create a suitable injection site. This would ensure proper subcutaneous (under the skin) absorption. As u can see, by gently pinching the mound of skin around the needle, you can realistically create the illusion of injecting the morphine without actually piercing the skin.
Last but not least, a look at one of my small Carlisle packets and a quick lesson in applying them. Here you see the opened packet containing the bandage and shaker of sulfanilamide powder (baking soda).
Now we see the unrolled bandage, compress side up.
Here we have a hypothetical penetrating wound to the forearm. After the "wound" is exposed and debrided of dirt and foreign matter to the extent possible, the Carlisle dressing is removed from the soldier's aid pouch, opened, and the powdered sulfanilamide is applied.
While maintaining direct pressure on the wound, the bandage is applied.
The bandage is wrapped securely around and tied on top of the wound to maintain pressure and ensure it stays in place.
The bandage is secured with a square knot and the excess is trimmed away.
As noted above, a few more items not shown but that I would deem important:
1. foot powder- in a tin or envelope
2. extra socks- besides the ones you carry for yourself
3. Repro Emergency Medical Tag Booklet- For filling out and attaching to casualties for evacuation
4. Roll of Toilet Paper- For cleaning wounds and as intended.
5. Morale Items- cigarettes, chocolate, drink mix, hard candies
Again, this is mickey mouse/ barney level basic information. This topic could go on for many more pages and may expand in future to topics if the interest is there .