Trauma suffered in combat is frequently of greater severity than that faced in the civilian sector and access to advanced care is often limited. Therefore, multifunctional wound dressings, capable of high absorption, hemostatic activity and antimicrobial drug delivery, are of significant interest in improving point-of-injury care. Here, polymeric foams composed of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, sodium/calcium polyacrylate and PNIPAM, were synthesized via high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templating and demonstrated exceptional material properties and biological performance for application as wound dressing materials. The polyHIPE foams exhibited typical HIPE hierarchical microstructure, a high capacity for fluid absorption and excellent cytocompatibility. Furthermore, the materials were highly effective at clotting whole blood and capable of loading/delivering active antibiotics. Porous polymeric foams prepared via high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) offer an exciting method for the rational design of wound dressing materials that are highly absorptive, hemostatic and capable of antimicrobial drug delivery. Published by Elsevier Ltd.