L2

• Bandaging and Dressing Wounds

  Wounds that are deep or that bleed profusely will need emergency medical treatment.
• As a first aid, wounds should be handled and managed properly. To do this, a dressing is used. A dressing is a sterile material used to directly cover the wound.
• Dressing can be made of

  • cloth
  • gauze
  • other fabrics
• Dressing is used to:

  • control bleeding
  • absorb fluids from the wound; and
  • prevent germs from entering the exposed area or wound
• 2 Types of Dressing

  1. Commercially prepared dressing
  2. Improvised dressing
• Commercially prepared dressing:

  • rolled gauze
  • gauze pads or sheets
  • adhesive strips (Band-Aid, Mediplast, etc.)
  • cotton or synthetic wound pads
• Improvised dressing - any sterile and absorbent material
• To stop the bleeding, or before dressing and bandaging a wound, control the bleeding first. This can be done by applying gentle pressure over the wound in most cases, the bleeding stops within 20-30 minutes. Once you stop and clean the wound, bandaging follows.
• Bandaging plays a critical role in wound management. It includes protection against infection, contamination, or trauma.
• Most standard first aid kits come with

  • sterile gauze pads
  • adhesive tapes
  • roller bandage
  • triangular bandage
• Although in emergency cases, any absorbent clean material may be used as bandage.
• Bandaging techniques may vary depending on the location of the wound and function of the bandage.
• Pictures (Bandages)

  • Flexible plastic adhesive
  • Elastic bandage
  • Triangular Bandage
  • Roller bandage
  • Sterile gauze pad
• A bandage is a strip of fabric used to dress and bind up wounds.
• Bandage functions:

  • To protect the wound from environmental bacteria
  • To absorb wound secretion
  • To immobilize the wound
  • To exert pressure that helps prevent swelling or bleeding
• Ace wrap bandage is an elastic bandage that comes in a roll of different sizes with metal clips, with tape to fasten it in place.
• Ace wrap bandage puts gentle pressure on the tissue around an injury while it gives support to the injured area.
• Ace wrap bandage is practical and convenient to use for the following reasons:

  1. It helps reduce swelling of an injured area of the body.

  2. It holds wound bandages in place.

  3. It wraps around an arm or leg splint during healing.

  4. It holds cold or hot packs in place on a body part.
• Tubular gauze is an open knit bandage usually made of stretchy, lightweight material of seamless, tubular construction.
• Tubular gauze is ideal for bandaging joints and for holding dressings in place on areas such as joints as well as fingers and toes.
• Tubular gauze also serves the purpose of holding the dressing securely in place while allowing injured area to breathe.
• General Principles of Bandaging:

  • Work with the injured person and explain to him/her what you are doing
  • Work in front of him/her whenever possible and from his/her injured side if you can.
  • Bandage firmly over bleeding and securely over broken bones but not as tight as to compromise circulation below the site of the injury.
• General Principles of Bandaging:

  • When wrapping bandages, consider the body's natural hollows (e.g., the knees, ankles, neck, and small of the back) to slide the bandages gently into place.

  Be aware that most injuries swell. Check that the bandage remains firmly secured

  Secure bandages with tape, clips, a bow, or a square knot.

  • Make sure that bandages, especially knots, do not press on the skin. Place padding between the bandage and the skin.
• Types of Bandaging/Bandage

  • Triangular Bandage
  • Sprained ankle bandage
• A triangular bandage is a large triangle of cloth, usually a loose-weave cotton cloth, used in first aid.
• It is also called a cravat (French for ”necktie") because it is folded to the shape of a long narrow band.
• Square knot - It is best when doing a bandage. It lies flat, does not press the injured person, and is easy to untie and adjust. It is reliable under a steady load. An arm sling triangular bandage is the ideal application for this kind.
• Open phase or bandage - It is best used arm as sling, underarm sling, top of the head bandage, front or back of the chest, a hand or foot bandage.
• Cravat bandage - It is made by bringing the point of a triangular bandage to the middle of the base, and then folding it lengthwise to the desired width.
• Different cravat types

  • Broad cravat
  • Narrow cravat
• Broad cravat - abdominal binder, knee binder, shoulder and hip bandage, and arm and leg bandage
• Narrow cravat - forehead bandage, ear, cheek and jaw, bandage, palm bandage, and sprained ankle.
• Sprained ankle bandage

  1. Overlap the bandage
  2. Make a figure eight around the ankle
  3. Circle the calf
• Triangular bandage (types)

  1. Square knot
  2. Open phase or bandage
  3. Cravat bandage
• Carrying and Transporting the Victim (techniques/ways)

  1. One-man carry (ankle drag, lower carry)
  2. Two-man carry (seat carry)
  3. Three-man carry
• One-man carry (ankle drag, lower carry) The ankle drag is used to remove and transfer a casualty from a source of danger. It is used to evacuate the patient when other methods are not available.
• Two-man carry (seat carry) This carry can only be used for conscious patients because the patient needs to have control over his/her body to give assistance to the rescuers.
• Three-man carry - This technique requires three (3) persons to carry the victim on one side or the center.