What are Bandages?
A strip or roll of gauze or other material for wrapping or binding any part of the body.
Bandages may be used to stop the flow of blood, absorb drainage, cushion the injured area, provide a safeguard against contamination, hold a medicated dressing in place, hold a splint in position, or otherwise immobilize an injured part of the body to prevent further injury and to facilitate healing.
Some bandages are medical designed which has medication implemented in them for fast healing of a wound.
*
Roller Bandages
A tightly rolled, circular bandage of varying widths and materials, often prepared commercially. In an emergency, strips may be torn from a sheet or piece of yard goods and rolled. When more than a few inches of length is needed, rolling is essential for quick and clean bandaging.
*
Self-adhering, conforming bandages
A sterile compress of layers of gauze or other material, affixed to a fabric or film coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
*
Cravat bandage
one made by bringing the point of a triangular bandage to the middle of the base and then folding lengthwise to the desired width.
*
Gauze rollers
is used for dressing wounds, packing wounds, and, in combination with flexible medical tape, improvising bandaids.
*
Demi gauntlet bandage
one that covers the hand, but leaves the fingers uncovered.
*
Esmarch’s bandage
A rubber bandage applied upward around a part (from the distal to the proximal part) to expel blood from it; the part is often elevated as the elastic pressure is applied. This is often used in conjunction with a pneumatic tourniquet. Called also Martin bandage.
*
Gauntlet bandage
one that covers the hands and fingers like a glove.
*
Plaster bandage
a bandage stiffened with a paste of plaster of Paris.
*
Pressure bandage
one for applying pressure, for the purpose of arresting haemorrhage; pressure is applied directly over the wound.
*
Recurrent bandage
one used on a distal stump, such as that of a finger, toe, or limb, turned lengthwise to cover the end of the stump and secured in place by circular turns.
*
Scultetus bandage
A large rectangular cloth bandage whose ends are split into many tails; the tails overlap each other and are tied or pinned across a compress covering the bandaged area, usually the abdomen.
*
Spiral bandage
a roller bandage applied spirally around a limb.
*
Tailed bandage
A square piece of cloth cut or torn into strips from the ends toward the center, with as large a center left as necessary. The bandage is centred over a compress on the wound and the ends are then tied separately. A four-tailed bandage is useful for wounds of the nose and chin.
*
Triangular bandage
one made by folding or cutting a large square of cloth diagonally. It may form a sling for an injured arm, or can be folded several times into a cravat of any desired width.
Application of Bandages
In applying a bandage
One
If the skin is broken a sterile pad or several thicknesses of sterile gauze should be placed over the wound before tape or bandaging material is applied over the pad to hold it in place. Adhesive tape is never applied directly on a wound.
Two
The bandage should not be made so tight that it interferes with circulation. A pressure bandage should be applied only for the purpose of arresting haemorrhage.
Three
A bandage does not have to look good to be effective; in an emergency, that the bandage serves its purpose is more important than its appearance.
