The simple, reliable, adaptable bandanna is possibly the single most useful piece of kit available. It still surprises me when a man doesn't have a handkerchief, or bandanna, and a pocket knife.
Don't discount the effectiveness of a bandanna:
I have had people scoff at the usefulness of a bandanna as bandage. The main objection was 'it isn't sterile'. OK, fair enough. If you have a sterile bandage use it. But don't fail to use a bandanna because it isn't sterile. As pointed out to me by a expert in disease control: 'Sterility is a myth. Items are more or less clean but nothing is ever perfectly sterile'.
For first-aid use laundered and relatively clean, and ready for immediate use, is far better than 'sterile' and back at the house. Use what you have on hand.
Or a bandanna as a water filter. Again, if you have a better purpose-built unit then use it. But if all you have is a bandanna use what you have. It could save your health, if not your life:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=cloth-filters-combat-cholWater poured through four layers of cheap cotton cloth prevented half of the cases of cholera. Seeing as that exposure to contaminated water is possible without drinking, bypassing the filtration effort, it would seem even such a simple filter prevents something over half of the cases.
Never underestimate what a simple piece of cloth can do for you. Keep one handy.
Handkerchiefs are a bit smaller than bandannas. Usually about 16" square. They also have a tighter weave and fold up tighter. So even in dress pants you can always have a bit of cloth handy. A silk handkerchief is both sensual and chivalrous when offered to, or used on, a lady.
Bandannas are usually about 20" square and made of a looser cotton weave. Still compact enough to ride easily in the hip pocket of jeans.
The big brother of the bandanna is the triangular bandage. Typically about 36" square of rough cotton muslin.
http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/O...ularBandage.htm One or two of these, pre-folded and inside its plastic to keep it dry as you slog through the swamp, fit inside BDU pockets and can be used as a good start in first-aid. As demonstrated in the link uses, in first-aid use alone, is limited only by imagination. The OD green ones in the medic's bag were the preferred 'dew-rag' in more than one conflict. They are still doing that job in desert tan.
IMHO every kit should have a couple of triangular bandages. No first-aid kit is complete without at least one.
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