Sgt. Richard Buehner from the Wyoming, MI, Headquarters Company 1st Battalion, 126th Armor, MIARNG, treats a simulated casualty while training at Camp Grayling, MI, 6 August 2005. The battle dressing used is carried in the vehicle First Aid Kit, General Purpose.
The steel box 12-unit vehicle first aid kit of World War II and the 1950s was replaced by the "First Aid Kit, General Purpose, Rigid Case" (FSN 6545-922-1200, later changed to NSN 6545-00-922-1200). This kit was typically bracket-mounted in a vehicle for emeergency use by the vehicle operator or passangers.
The General Purpose First Aid Kit, Rigid was produced in a series of variants:
Steel box, olive drab, white paper label afixed to top with red printed "6545-922-1200 / First Aid Kit / the Medical Department symbol / General Purpose 12 Unit" FSN 6545-922-1200
Steel box, olive drab, black painted Medical Department symbol, no other lettering, inside label and instructions FSN 6545-922-1200
Plastic box, olive drab, black painted embossed letters "NSN 6545-00-922-1200 / First Aid Kit / General Purpose" with a white square containing a red cross to the right, inside label and instructions (photo, left)
The boxes had tight fitting lids with waterproof seal, lid clamps and a handle or mounting point. The size of the plastic box was specified as 3 in. high x 5-13/16 in. deep x 8-7/32 in. wide. The Medical Department symbol consists of a caduceus and the letters US.
NSN 6545-00-922-1200, "First Aid Kit, General Purpose, Rigid Case" was replaced by NSN 6545-01-521-8515 (same nomenclature) which was then replaced by 6545-01-534-0779 (First Aid Kit, General Purpose). The latter kit is intended to cover a wider range of requirements (vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, life rafts, ... ) than the earlier NSNs.
Contents of the General Purpose First Aid Kit
Item
NSN
Qty/Kit
Iodine
6505-00-148-7096
10
Field dressing
6510-00-159-4883
3
Field compress
6510-00-200-3075
1
Gauze bandage, 3-in x 18-ft
6510-00-200-3185
2
Triangle bandage, 37-in x 37-in x 52-in
6510-00-201-1755
1
Adhesive bandage 3/4-in x 3-in
6510-00-913-7909
18
Rolled elastic bandage, 2-in x 12-ft
6510-00-935-5820
1
Surgical tape, 1-in x 54-in
6510-01-060-1639
3
Petrolatum gauze, 3-in x 36-in
6510-01-112-6414
3
Surgical blade
6515-00-754-0426
1
Scissors
6515-00-935-7138
1
Exam glove
6515-01-364-8554
4
Dental bag
6520-00-926-9041
1
Eye dressing
6545-00-853-6309
1
Case
6545-00-113-3722
1
Other Forms of the General Purpose First Aid Kit
The General Purpose First Aid Kit, Rigid was the most common kit, but there were a number of other kits with the same or similar names, purpose and contents. These include:
First Aid Kit, General Purpose, Flexible Case. Similar to contents above but in a nylon bag that could be mounted on LTD studs in an aircraft, similar to the WW II Kit, First Aid, Aeronautic. NSN 6545-01-521-8519 or 6545-01-533-7043
First Aid Kit, General Purpose, Rigid Case. Larger kit with greater variety of contents in a wider/deeper tub (10x10x8.25 in.), for emergency use on small watercraft, airborne and seaborne large life rafts, and buildings. NSN 6545-00-116-1410, 6545-01-521-8511 or 6545-01-534-0079.
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