Safety and First Aid: Dressing and Bandaging Techniques

Basic first aid.

1. Dressing and Bandaging Techniques

2. Dressing Is a sterilized cloth pad or similar fabric used to cover an injured body part, usually a wound. It is sometimes called a compress. Any clean cloth or gauze pad can be used to dress wounds in times of emergencies.

3. Functions: Control bleeding. Minimize infection. Absorb fluids.

4. Kinds of Dressing

5. Roller Gauze Made of strips of sterilized gauze rolled tightly. These rolled bandages, gauze roll bandage and cotton roll bandage are used for different types of cuts, injuries, wounds etc. Strong and convenient, these gauze roll bandage, cotton roll bandage are used when moderate compression is required.

6. Square gauze Sterilized gauze made from sheets of folded gauze.

7. Adhesive Compress (adhesive strips) Is used for small wounds. The middle part is sterilized and both ends act as adhesive and compress.

8. Dressing application

9. Bandage Is a clean and sterile fabric material used to hold the dressing in place.

10. Purposes Control bleeding. Immobilize injured body part. Secure splints in place.

11. Kinds of Bandages

12. Triangular bandage Also known as a cravat  bandage , a  triangular bandage  is a piece of cloth put into a right-angled  triangle , and often provided with safety pins to secure it in place.

13. Roller bandage A  roller bandage  is used to secure a dressing in place.

14. Four-tail bandage a bandage consisting of a strip of cloth split in two on both ends; the central part is placed under the chin to restrict motion of the mandible and the tails are tied over the top of the head. (Do not use this kind of bandage with a jaw bone injury.)

15. Muslin binder Best used for chest and abdominal wounds. A large towel is a good alternative for a muslin binder.

16. Elastic bandage Is like a roller bandage. It can be pulled to the desired tightness to help compress the injury but always check the blood circulation.

17. Bandage Application Each kind of bandage has a specific purpose. There is a right kind depending on the type of injury and its severity. It should be neat, clean, and free from contamination. Apply the bandage in an appropriate manner. It should fit not too tightly and not too loosely. Constantly check the tightness of the bandage. Some bandages need to be tied with a square knot while others can be secured with a hook.

18. The Square Knot The square knot is very popular in tying and securing dressings and bandages because it is very easy to tie and untie.

19. How to apply the triangular bandage