Abstract: A dressing with a pad to be applied to a wound and consisting of a flexible, capillary-active material and stiffening elements. The stiffening elements extend at right angles to the flat side of the pad to be applied to the wound and are arranged to stabilize the volume of the pad such that it can absorb a predeterminable amount of fluid, and to counteract and distribute forces acting on the pad. To form an occlusive dressing, the pad can be enclosed in a cover of vapor-permeable, plastic film having a perforated portion on the flat side of the pad facing the wound.