RED CROSS BANDAGES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 456, 27 July 1915, Page 4

RED CROSS BANDAGES.

HINTS FOR COMMITTEES. [Contributed.! So much work has been sent in to the Bandage Department, Christchurch lied Cross Depot, which, although possibly useful enough in its way, is not asked for, nor will be accepted by the medical authorities for use in military hospitals, that it has been thought advisable to let the public know some details regarding this most useful and necessary work. It is exceedingly difficult to get workers to copy the samples and follow the printed lists with any shape of accuracy. Take, for instance, the bottle covers which are asked for—not less than 14in by 12in, with a tape run through the top. The number of people who think any size will do is incredible. Some put buttons or domes on tlie top instead of runner tapes. As the covers are for tin bottles, one can easily understand that the cover must be made the right size, or is absolutely useless. Hundreds of these covers are altered every month in the depot rooms or by willing helpers outside. Bandages. Bandages must be made on a machine, not by hand, and they may be of old sheeting or new muslin or calico, which is the proper material for bandages. There are many other kinds of muslin, but nothing but bandage muslin may be used, or the cheapest unbleached calico, which must be boiled first.

Flannel bandages must be made of new flannel, according to the measurement on the list. All bandages must be tied once only (.not knotted or pinned), with the selvedges of the sheets or flannel used, or._with tape or string. Be careful to pull off all loose threads when finished, and pack in cardboard boxes lined with white pjfper. Icebags are not needed now, as we have a sufficient number to last for some time, and the flannel for these bags is very difficult to obtain. Cloths. Medicine cloths are simply nice clean pieces of calico or table linen, about Bin by lOin—a little more or less does not matter. These must be free from hems, selvedges, buttons, tapes, etc. Pack in cardbcard boxes lined with white paper. We cannot have too many of these. They must not be hemmed, but must be absolutely free from loose threads. Make a pile of them, about 10 or 32, and then fold; them over once, so as to form a -packet, then place in the box and begin again. Diet cloths are simply pieces of old table linen hemmed, and should be starched and ironed after making, to give then) a tidy appearance. They are badly wanted, and are most useful for protecting a helpless patient's clothes while he is being fed. Operation cloths are pieces of calico from 18in to 36in square, and have innumerable uses in hospital. Veils are of butter muslin, about 36in square. This special qijplity of muslin is obt.ainable-jat the depot. ijSwabs moist \>e made of absorbent cotton wool covered with muslin. There are, of course, many otlK r kinds of swabs in use, but we are told to make these alone. They cannot be sterilised here to be of use at the base, so we must keep them perfectly clean, and pack them in paper-lined boxes as'soon as they are made. Keep them covered so that they may not get dusty. Face cloths are a very real necessity at the base hospitals. A nurse who returned by the s.s. Willochra told us that nurses have to use new lint, which can ill be spared for this purpose. Children can easily knit nice face cloths of cotton, not too coarse and made very loose. After making, the face cloths should be boiled before sending them to the depot. Indeed, all work made by children; should be well washed with Jeye's Fluid or some disinfectant before sending it in, so as to avoid the risk ols spreading epidemics sucli as measles, etc. The disinfectant will not hurt wool, and socks and scarves are all the better for it. Fomentations must be made of thick flannel or old blanket, two layers, and padded in between with scraps of wellwashed woollen material —nothing that dye will come out of—then quilted by the sewing machine as in the samples. They are most useful. So many soldiers suffer agonies from rheumatism in the joints,- and these fomentations when dipped in boiling water and applied are most soothing. They are made in two sizes—Sin by JOin and lOin by 12in. The edges should be torn, not cut, and left raw, not turned in, so as to avoid any hardness. Wringers for the fomentations are made of strong fort'ar, 20in long by about lGin wide, hemmed at each end. These are not made now with a wide hem to enable the sticks to go through, as we are told the latter are almost an

unknown luxury in base hospitals. Knitted eye bandages are not being sent to the hospitals, as they are too hot

[ for the tropics. Those that are already j made may be joined together to make ! face cloths. | Manitail bandages must be made with five tails at each end, each tail overlapj ping the last, and all the same width [ and length. They are of new white .flannelette, and require most careful making. The tails must not be hemmed, and the back must not be turned in; leave all edges raw. .Roll as in the sample over a twist of white or brown paper, to the middle, and there fasten with two rust-proof safety pins. Binders are of double unbleached calico, the edges turned in and machined. They are loin wide by long. They need not be washed. Triangular bandages are made from a piece of new unbleached calico 40in square, double from eorfter to corner, and cut neatly across. They must not be hemmed, and they need not be washed. Tie all the finished work except. bandages, medicine - cloths, and swabs in bundles of 10 securely, so that they will stand handling without coming unfastened. Operation cloths and face cloths may be rolled and tied; everything else must be kept flat, except, of course, manitails and binders. It is absolutely necessary for everyone who is making these things to work in a large white apron which has a bib and calico sleeves which reach from wrist to elbow. We are very much indebted to Miss Thurston, matron of the Christeliurch Hospital, and to many of our leading doctors for the valuable advice as to what is suitable for field and base hospital, also to those who have returned, from the front and have willingly placed their experience at our disposal. We hear a great deal of criticism, and we want the public to know that this criticism does not affect us in the slightest degree, as we are under orders from those who know what is needed and who will from time to time give us advice as to the improvements they may wish us to make in our lists which their experience may prove necessary. Our duty is plain: we must, do, not what we Avant to do, bit what is wanted by those who know. The need is great —old linen is getting scarce, and we are grateful for the smallest donations. Old blankets and flannel are needed for our fomentations.

There is work for everybody who is willing. Are you doing your share for those who have gone into untold dangers to enable us to live in peace and security? B. .T. LAVIE, Bandage Department, Christeliurch Red Cross Depot.