The OLAES Modular 4″ individual dressing by TacMed Solutions is a multi-purpose individual dressing for IFAKs, emergency services and rescuers.
OLAES is an all-in-one dressing that can be used for various wounds – it is used by paramedics and people trained in tactical first aid. It is vacuum-packed in sterile, hermetic packaging (approx. 10 × 5 × 4 cm), so it can be attached to a vest or helmet or stowed in a backpack.
Inside the compress (10 × 15 cm, non-adherent) there is rolled sterile gauze 9 cm wide and approx. 250 cm long, with a dense, irregular structure. The gauze can be used to pack the wound and apply precise pressure to the bleeding point – including entry and exit wounds at the same time – and to clean around the wound. The gauze is then covered with the compress and secured with the elastic bandage (10 × 120 cm), which protects the wound and maintains pressure. Thin transverse hook-and-loop strips on the bandage prevent the dressing from unwinding accidentally under stress and stabilise it once applied. The OLAES Modular 4″ individual dressing fits in an IFAK and on a vest.
The dressing also contains a 5 × 7 cm film that can be used as an occlusive dressing for a chest wound and as insulation. The dressing is single-use. For an individual first aid kit, you will also need compressed tactical gauze and a tourniquet. The OLAES Modular 4″ – practise at our bleeding control training.
Why the OLAES Modular 4″ individual dressing?
One pack contains everything you need to treat a bleeding wound: packing gauze, a compress, a pressure bandage and film for a chest wound. Under stress there is no need to reach for several different dressings. The OLAES Modular 4″ individual dressing can be attached to a vest or helmet thanks to its small size.
The flat version is the OLAES Modular 4 FLAT. You will find other dressings in the category OLAES.
A bleeding wound – how to use the dressing?
Put on gloves and expose the wound. Pack the wound with gauze and press firmly for at least 3 minutes, then apply the compress and wrap with the bandage under pressure, checking circulation below. For massive bleeding from a limb, apply a tourniquet. Do not remove a foreign body embedded in the wound – immobilise it with the dressing. Call for help on 112 – action taken by a bystander can decide whether the casualty survives. The dressings are single-use.
Read more in the article Massive haemorrhage – first aid.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What does the dressing contain?
Elastic bandage 10 × 120 cm, compress 10 × 15 cm, gauze 9 cm × approx. 250 cm and film 5 × 7 cm.
What is the film for?
It can be used as an occlusive dressing for a chest wound.
Is the dressing sterile?
Yes – sterile, vacuum-packed, single-use.
