WW2 Civil Defence & ARP First Aid Boxes & Bags
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A core aspect of the Civil Defence Service was to provide immediate medical assistance to victims of bombing. The main deliverers of onsite medical care were the First Aid Parties who carried medical supplies in haversacks. Casualties were then transported by Stretcher Parties to First Aid Posts or Mobile Units and then transferred to hospital by the Ambulance Service.
All Wardens' Posts were also issued with first aid tins and the trouser pockets on battledress were designed to hold a single "First Field Dressing". |
Various styles of WW2 First Aid Boxes |
First Aid boxes
All Wardens' Posts would be allocated a first aid box that contained the necessary supplies to deal with wounds until an ambulance was available. There are some boxes marked with "Light Rescue".
A large variety of first aid kits were sold to the general public. These came in varying sizes in both metal and cardboard containers. A lot were produced by Boots the Chemist. Minimax and Paragon manufactured kits for both the general public and the Civil Defence services,
Canvas haversacks
A number of canvas haversacks were issued to First Aid Parties and First Aid Posts. Some were quite small (often labelled as 'Pouches' and limited to the bare essentials. Others were much larger and could carry sufficient articles to deal with most eventualities.