Israeli Innovation: The Israeli bandage
Emergency bandages changed very little in the decades after World War II. When Israeli military medic Bernard Bar-Natan began his training in 1984, he was surprised to discover that the same 1940s style of bandages was still being used. He was even taught to use a stone to apply extra pressure to a wound. Believing there had to be a better solution, he went on to invent what is now known as the Israeli Bandage.
The Israeli Bandage (also known as the Emergency Bandage), is a simple but ingenious dressing with a built-in pressure applicator that allows severe bleeding to be controlled quickly, even with just one hand. It was designed to be easy to use under pressure, whether by a soldier, paramedic or an injured person themselves.
Today, the Israeli Bandage is used by military personnel, emergency services and first responders in countries around the world. From battlefields and natural disasters to everyday accidents, it has helped save countless lives.
The Israeli Bandage is proof that a simple idea can have an extraordinary impact. Sometimes the innovations that change the world are the ones that solve an everyday problem in a better way.