HOW TO MAKE ROLLED SHEET BANDAGES:

 There have been several inquiries about how to go about making rolled sheet bandages so I decided to make out an instruction sheet on it.

1. The bandages can be made out of used sheets that are 100% cotton or cotton/polyester or similar material.

2. They can be any color or print.

3. One place where people find quantities of used sheets is motels or hospitals.

4. The sizes used most often are widths of 2”, 3”, 4” or 5”.  The sheets can be torn in these widths.  The ends should be sewed together so it is one continuous length of bandage.

5. These lengths are then rolled by hand (or some creative people make a bandage roller similar to what people use for an apple peeler) until they are 2” or 3” in diameter.  Larger diameter rolls than that make it clumsy to handle.

6. When the bandage is finished, secure the end either with a hand-sewed stitch or a rubber band.

7. When sending these to the Bongolo Evangelical Hospital (B.E.H.), send them in a strong, large box lined with a plastic garbage bag so it won’t get wet.
   
   The Bongolo address is:
   
   Bongolo Evangelical Hospital
   B.P. 49
   Bongolo, Lebamba
   Gabon, Africa
    

8. Remember that boat-mail packages take on an average of 6-12 months to get to Bongolo.  Airmail letters take 3-4 weeks.  One of the staff at the hospital will send you a thank-you newsletter telling you when your package arrived.

9. The post-office will have you fill out a custom form.  If it is rolled bandages, you can write: of no commercial value.

10. Do to the great response, please do not send rolled bandages with out first checking with Coleen.

 STERILIZATION WRAPS:

 Another constant need at the B.E.H. is for cotton or cotton/polyester wraps used to wrap around instruments or gloves for sterilization.  Heavier cotton such as old cloth tablecloths can also be used.  Again any color can be used but green or blue is preferred.

1. They are to be double thickness with the seams turned inside the two layers and sewn around the edges.  An “X” should then be sewn from corner to corner.

2. Sizes needed in inches are:   12 x 12,   24 x 24,    36 x 36,    48 x 48,    48 x 60
   

 MAYO STAND COVERS:

These are like long pillow cases, except that the end needs to be double thickness.

1. They may be made out of cotton or cotton/polyester.  Heavier cotton such as old cloth tablecloths can also be used.  Again any color can be used but green or blue is preferred.

2. Sizes:   width 20” x length 57”.    28” of the closed end should be double thickness.

We’d like to thank you in advance for all the hard work and finances that go into projects such as these.  If you should have any other questions about the needs list for Bongolo Evangelical Hospital, I am the one to contact and you’ll get a faster response than writing to the staff in Gabon.

Former missionary nurse to Gabon:

Coleen Lofgren
1284 Scenic Hwy.
Bovey, Mn. 55709

Telephone (218) 245-2706