---
title: How you can help yourself
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-you-can-help-yourself-newsmap-1943/
description: Newsmap sheet of posed photographs showing soldiers treating their own wounds, with first-aid captions. Tagged by technique, with source and rights.
section: Collection
---

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3. How you can help yourself

**Content note:** Posed photographs of wounded soldiers with blood-stained uniforms and bandaged heads, and a soldier with fixed bayonet over a fallen comrade. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![How you can help yourself, 1943 US poster: Newsmap sheet of posed photographs showing soldiers treating their own wounds](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/how-you-can-help-yourself-newsmap-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/how-you-can-help-yourself-newsmap-1943.jpg)

# How you can help yourself

Newsmap sheet of posed photographs showing soldiers treating their own wounds, with first-aid captions. The upper right photograph shows a snarling soldier with fixed bayonet over a fallen comrade under the line 'You are a fighter first.' That line casts the soldier's role as fighter before helper (identity-fusion); the rest is instruction.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
How you can help yourself
YOU are a fighter first. The best way you can help your injured comrades is to clear the battlefield of the enemy so that the medical men can reach him quickly and with the necessary safety. They have been trained to give their expert aid under fire but they can do a far better job after you have effectively knocked the enemy out of action.
The general rules are the same for all wounds. Stop bleeding, prevent infection, counteract shock. These specially posed photographs illustrate treatment of some of the common types.
In caring for a wound of the jaw sprinkle your packet of sulfa powder on the bandage and place it against the wound.
Bind the bandage securely around the top of the head so that it will not slip off and tight enough so that the pressure will help stop bleeding.
To avoid the effects of shock lie with face down for this type of wound, wrapping yourself in your wool blanket or anything else that will keep you warm until the medics come.
Most important thing to do first is to get a look at the wound so you can begin treatment. Rip the clothing away carefully or slash it with your knife or bayonet.
If you have both a wound and a broken bone, treat the wound first to prevent infection and stop bleeding, then treat the fracture.
To stop bleeding raise the injured member above the level of the heart. In this case the soldier is applying pressure to the wound at the same time.
[imprint:] NEWSMAP Prepared and distributed by ARMY ORIENTATION COURSE, Special Service Division Army Service Forces, WAR DEPT., 2E580 Pentagon Bldg., Washington, D. C. U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1943 - 5381[illegible]
```

[← How to shop with War Ration Book Two](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/how-to-shop-with-war-ration-book-two-1943/) [Hurry! Buy more bonds thru payroll savings →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hurry-buy-more-bonds-payroll-savings-1943/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [A Little American's Promise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-little-americans-promise-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Transfer)
- [All Together! Enlist in the Navy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-together-enlist-in-the-navy-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [Members of U.S. Food Administration: America Has Promised to Feed the Hungry Millions of Europe, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-food-pledge-20-million-tons-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion)
- [Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines. Help Them Defend America on Land and Sea](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/do-your-duty-join-the-us-marines-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Glittering generalities, Identity fusion)
- [50-50 (The Job of Beating Up the Hun)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fifty-fifty-service-series-11-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion)
- [Food Will Win the War: Member of United States Food Administration (Pledge Card)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/food-will-win-the-war-member-pledge-card-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon)
- [Hit the Bull's Eye! Are You on This List? Get Your Name in the Circle: It's the Ring of Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-the-bulls-eye-ring-of-liberty-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [I Am a Soldier of the United States (Service Series No. 12)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-am-a-soldier-of-the-united-states-service-series-no-12-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)