Israeli Trauma Dressing

Applying the Israeli Trauma Bandage to an arm wound
Applying the Israeli Trauma Bandage to an arm wound.

Today in WW II: 21 Jan 1942 Rommel's second offensive drives the British 8th Army back almost 300 miles, halting on 4 Feb between Gazala and Bir Hacheim, 30 miles west of Tobruk, Libya.   

Israeli Trauma Bandage

Bandage Kit, Elastic comes in two sizes: NSN 6510-01-460-0849 (4 inch) or 6510-01-492-2275 (6 inch)
Bandage Kit, Elastic comes in two sizes: NSN 6510-01-460-0849 (4 inch) or 6510-01-492-2275 (6 inch)

The leading preventable cause of death on the battlefield is bleeding from an extremity. Bleeding from an arm or leg can usually be controlled by applying an emergency trauma bandage, applying manual pressure, and elevating the injured limb. If the pressure bandage fails, a tourniquet can be applied to stop the flow of blood below the tourniquet band. Even when a severe wound requires an immediate tourniquet to stop the blood flow, when the casualty has been properly evaluated and treated an emergency trauma bandage or pressure dressing may be applied to the wound and then the tourniquet may be loosened. If possible, this will make it more likely that amputation of the limb can be avoided.

Description of the Israeli Trauma Bandage

The Bandage Kit, Elastic" is also called the "trauma bandage", "emergency bandage", the "Israeli bandage", or the "Israeli pressure dressing". It replaces the standard battle dressing issued for decades in the first aid pouch. The main purpose of the trauma bandage is to serve as a pressure dressing. It can also be used to provide a tourniquet-like effect to slow blood circulation, though soldiers should use a Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) as first choice if a tourniquet is needed. The trauma bandage is available to every servicemember as a component of the Improved First Aid Kit (IFAK) and the Combat Lifesavers Bag.

The Israeli Bandage must be kept inside its package to keep it clean. The Israeli bandage has a built in tension bar that applies continuous pressure to the wound, allowing the bandage to act as a stand-alone field dressing, sling, pressure dressing and mild tourniquet. It is ideal for head wounds, because it can be wrapped very easily. Directions on how to use the bandage are printed on the back of the package.

The Israeli Bandage was developed by Jerusalem-based First Care Products Ltd., a startup company founded by inventor Bernard Bar-Natan. First Care sold about 200,000 of the bandages to the U.S. military in 2003, and 800,000 in 2004.

Nine Steps to Apply the Israeli Bandage Properly

  1. Remove the emergency trauma bandage package from the casualty's kit
  2. Remove the bandage from the pouch
  3. Place the pad (dressing) on the wound
  4. Wrap the elastic bandage around the wounded extremity
  5. Insert the elastic bandage completely into the pressure bar
  6. Pull the elastic bandage back over the top of the pressure bar, forcing the bar down onto the pad
  7. Wrap the elastic bandage tightly over the pressure bar
  8. Continue to wrap the elastic bandage around the limb so that all edges of the pad are covered
  9. Secure the hooking end of the closing bar into the elastic bandage to secure the bandage

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