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Beginning in 1937, the German army added a Verbandkasten (on-board first aid kit) to all military motor vehicles, and it became a standard equipment for new vehicles. The car first aid kit is a square box with a lid with an external size of 340x180x100mm, with a lock and a handle, the lid and the main body are connected by a hinge, and the box is divided into two areas, one large and one small, by a partition.
The on-board first aid kit is generally fixed in a position that is convenient for occupants and passengers. Over time, three variants have emerged:
· 1937 model: made with sheet metal or plywood riveted to a frame, with only one lock.
All-metal style.
Metal frame, plywood panel style.
Example of a paper template used to paint the logo and lettering of the lid of a box.
· 1938 type: double lock, all-metal, box cover, box body integral stamping, welding forming.
Style 1: The edge of the lid is stamped with a raised structure.
Style 2: The lid is flat.
Simplified style of hinges.
The handle is lowered and lifted.
The locking structure of the 1938 first aid kit, the details of the lock, handle and hinge are not uniform.
The first aid kit with the car has a sealing strip on the inside of the lid.
· Wooden type: the model that appeared in the late war, the box body mortise and tenon stitching, the edge chamfer, the lock and hinge are metal parts, and the handle is textile.
Wooden style 1, the lid is a whole, and the seal is a felt strip.
Wooden style 2 with lid assembled into one shape.
The car first aid kit can be field gray, Germany gray or yellow. The lid is marked with a red cross and the inscription "Verbandkasten" on the surface, making it easy to distinguish it from other on-board toolboxes. The box contains dressings, drugs and some basic medical equipment, which are used to simply deal with common gunshot wounds, explosion wounds, abrasions, burns, fractures, blood loss and other situations common on the battlefield.
A leaflet of instructions for use is included on the back of the lid, including a list of contents and a simple first aid tutorial:
- A. Medical Devices and Bandage Supplies
1. Dissecting forceps:
It is used to clamp gauze strips.
2. Straight scissors:
a) It is used to cut the briquetted bale after opening the blue carton package.
b) For cutting bandages, gauze strips, zinc oxide plaster.
3. Clothing scissors:
Used to cut clothes and boots. The latest laundry scissor attachment (next to the big screw) is used to cut the track clamp for the wire.
4. Tourniquet (in a burlap bag)
It is used to administer arterial compression to stop bleeding when there is bleeding from the arteries in the arm and leg.
5. Two sets of combined briquetting (gauze strip and gauze bandage, each in a burlap bag)
Excipients for wound dressing.
6. Two sets of 100g ordinary cotton briquettes (respectively packed in burlap bags)
It is used as a pad when bandaging, or as a fixed splint.
7. A triangular bandage (in a burlap bag)
a) As a cantilever cloth strap for fractures.
b) It is used for bandaging the head, neck, shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, feet.
c) For fixing the splint.
d) For temporary arterial compression in the event of arterial bleeding in the arm or leg. Loosely wrap the band around the upper arm or thigh above the bleeding site, tie it tightly, place a wooden stick, folding knife, or similar as a winch bar, tighten it until the bleeding stops, and then secure it with a bandage.
8. Twenty safety pins (in a leather bag)
For fixing:
a) Bandage ends.
b) The tip of the triangular bandage.
9. Paper plywood, 33x10 cm
Splinting for arm and leg fractures.
10. Two wire splints, 80x8 cm
It is used for the fixation of fractures.
11. Ten sterile bandage packs with instructions for use.
12. · Four rolls of burn bandages (including bismuth bandages)
The burn bandage is loosely applied to the burn area and then secured with a gauze bandage.
B. Medicines
1. A roll of zinc oxide plaster
a) Used to secure gauze strips instead of bandages.
b) Used to cover the skin abrasion area.
2. Iodine tincture (note: or alcohol)
Apply to the edges of wounds.
Instructions for use are printed paper, affixed to the back of the lid, and are available in different fonts.
A list of the contents of the first aid kit.
The pliers and scissors in the first aid kit are placed in a sack made of burlap, and some have only two instruments, omitting one of the dissecting forceps and straight scissors.
Triangular bandage pack.
Rubber tourniquet.
Bandage wraps and dressings.
Wire splints and paper splints for fractures can be intercepted and used as needed. You can also see the partition inside the box.
Burn bandage, metal cartridge.
Another type of burn bandage in a plastic box.
Zinc oxide plaster.
Safety pin.
Disinfect with 70% medical alcohol.
Due to the different time and place of delivery of the car first aid kit, there may be some differences in the shape and brand of the contents of each box, but the items are all similar.
Some on-board first aid kits will have the vehicle number written on them.
The contents of the first-aid kit, which is similar to a machine-gun ammunition kit, which are issued to infantry units, are basically the same as those of a vehicle-mounted first-aid kit.
Some examples of car first aid kit storage locations in the car:
Volkswagen Typ 92SS: First aid kit is located on the left side of the rear row.
SDKFZ 251: First aid kit is behind the station.
Tank One: First aid kit is located in the upper left corner of the firewall.
Type III J tank: the first aid kit is located on the right side of the fighting compartment, under the antenna landing handle.