BANDAGES

GENERAL TYPES OF BANDAGES

Proper Bandage: can aid materially in the recovery of a TRIAGULAR AND CRAVAT BANDAGES
patient • Triangular Bandage
Careless or improper applied of Bandage: o Used for temporary or permanent
• Cause discomfort to the patient bandaging of wounds, immobilization
• May expose the wound to danger of infection of fractures and dislocations, and as
• May imperil the life of the patient a sling for support of an injured part
USE OF BANDAGES of the body.
• Hold a dressing in place over a wound o Valuable in emergency bandaging: it
• Create pressure over a bleeding wound for is quickly and easily applied, stays
control hemorrhage on well, and can be improvised from
• Secure a splint to an injured part of the body a piece of shirt, an old sheet, a large
• Provide support to an injured part handkerchief, or any other pliable
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF BANDAGING material of suitable size.
• Bandage should never be applied directly over a o Unbleached Muslin: generally used
wound in making triangular bandages
o Base: Long side of the triangle,
• Should be used only to hold in place the dressing
Apex: the point opposite the base,
which covers a wound
Ends or extremities: each end of the
• Should be applied firmly and fastened securely
base
• Should not be applied so tightly that it stops
• Cravat
circulation or so loosely that it allows the dressing
o Bring the apex to the base and
to slip
folding it upon itself enough times to
o If bandages work themselves loose or
obtain a desired width
become unfastened, wounds may bleed,
Triangle of Forehead or Hold dressing on the
may become infected or broken bones
Scalp (Fronto-Occipital) forehead or scalp
may become further displaced
Triangle Arm Sling Support of fractures or
o It is essential that bandages be properly (Brachio-cervical Triangle) injuries of hand, wrist, and
applied and well secured forearm.
BASIC MATERIALS
Bandages are made from different types of material 2 types:
a) Gauze Bandages: Widely used; light, soft, thin, 1. Forearm is
and porous, and may be easily adjusted and supported from
applied both shoulders by
b) Muslin: Before being made into bandages it the sling
should be soaked in water and dried to cause 2. Support the
shrinkage and then ironed to remove wrinkles. forearm without
pressure on the
• Strong, inexpensive, and readily obtained
collarbone or
• Can be easily thorn into strips of the desired shoulder of the
width injured side
• Excellent for bandage practice: they can be Triangle of Chest or Back Hold dressings on burns
used repeatedly without fraying and can be or wounds of chest or
easily rolled back
c) Flannel: Soft and elastic; may be applied Triangle of Shoulder Used to hold dressings on
smoothly and evenly, and is useful for conditions wounds of the shoulder
requiring bandages which absorbs moisture and
maintain body heat Two bandages are
d) Crinoline: used in making plaster of paris required (1 triangle and 1
bandages; retains the plaster more satisfactorily cravat, roller bandage or
belt)
than that of gauze
Triangle of Hip Hold dressing on the
e) Rubber and elastic webbing: used to afford firm
bittock or hip
support to a part
• Webbing is preferable to pure rubber permits Two bandages are
the evaporation of moisture required (1 triangle and 1
cravat, roller bandage or
belt)
Triangle of Foot Hold dressings of
considerable size on the
foot
 BANDAGES
Triangle of Hand Hold dressings of CONTROL OF PRESSURE IN APPLYING ROLLER
considerable size on the BANDAGES
hand • Roller bandages should be applied evenly, firmly
Cravat of Head or Ear To apply pressure to and not too tightly.
control hemorrhage from • Excessive or uneven pressure will interfere with
wounds of scalp, or to
the circulation and harm the patient
hold dressings on wounds
o Bandaging arm or leg: the entire
of ear or lower scalp
extremity (except the fingers or toes)
Cravat of Jaw (Mento- Hold dressings on the
Vertico-Occipital Cravat) chin, cheeks, and scalp should be covered to maintain uniform
and as a temporary pressure. Fingers and toes should be left
support to immobilize a exposed so the circulation in these parts
fractured or dislocated jaw can be checked
Cravat bandage of Eye To hold a dressing over o An extremity should be bandaged in its
the eye. Two cravats are final position, since bending will change
required the pressure of parts of the bandage
Shoulder-Armpit Cravat To hold dressings in the o It is safer to use many turns rather than a
(bis-axillary) armpit or on the shoulder few too firmly applied turns to secure
Cravat of elbow To hold dressing around splints or dressing
the elbow ▪ Particularly important in applying
Cravat of knee To hold dressing around wet bandage, or one that may
the knee
become wet while securing a
Cravat of leg To hold dressing around
wet dressing
the leg
▪ A wet bandage will be unduly
Cravat of Palm of hand To hold dressing on the
palm or hand tightened when it dries if
ROLLER BANDAGES allowance has not been made
GENERAL for shrinkage
• Used to hold dressings in place, to support an o Bandage turns should overlap to
injured part, to create pressure for control of completely cover the skin, since any
hemorrhage, and to secure a splint to an injured uncovered skin may be pinched between
part in order to immobilize it the turns
▪ To prevent chafing and irritation
• Made from: gauze, flannel, muslin, rubber or
when two parts are bandaged
elastic webbing
together, skin surfaces should
• Width and length depending upon the part to be
be separated by absorbent
bandaged
material
• 2 inch wide and 6 yards long: hand, finger, toe
ANCHORING THE BANDAGE
and head bandages
• Usual anchors consist of several circular turns
• 3 inch wide and 10 yards long: extremities
overlying each other
• 4 inch wide and 10 yards long: thigh, groin, and
• Initial turns should be applied securely and, when
trunk
possible, around the part of the limb with the
• For convenience and ease of application, the smallest circumference
strip of material is rolled into the form of a
• The wrist and the part immediately above the
cylinder
ankle are preferred for anchoring appropriate
• Each bandage of this type should consist of only bandages
one piece, free from wrinkles, seams selvage,
FASTENING THE BANDAGE
and any imperfections that may cause
• Bandages are terminated by applying several
discomfort to the patient
overlying circulars turns and fastening the ends
APPLYING THE ROLLER BANDAGE
securely
• The roll should be held in the right hand so that
• The ends may be tied, pinned or fastened with
the loose end is on the bottom
adhesive tape
• Outside surface of the loose end is next applied REMOVING THE BANDAGE
to the part and held there with the left hand
• Bandage scissors are preferable when the
• The roll is then passed around the part by the bandage is to be removed by cutting
right hand, which controls the tension and
• Interference with the underlying dressing and
direction of the bandage,
wound should be carefully avoided
• Two or three of the initial turns of a roller
• Folds should be gathered up when the bandage
bandage should overlie each other to secure the
is merely unwound
bandage
• In applying the bandage, it is often necessary to
transfer the roll from one hand to other.
 BANDAGES
Circular Bandage Used to cover cylindrical
parts and to anchor
bandages

A turn is made around the

part and anchored

Similar succeeding turns

are made, overlying each
other completely

The bandage is then

terminated and secured
Spiral bandage Used to cover a cylindrical
part, but covers a larger
area than that covered by
the circular bandage:
applied to the arm
Oblique Bandage Used for retention of thick
dressings or temporary
dressings which require
frequent changes
Recurrent Bandage of Hold a dressing on the
Head with One Bandage scalp
Recurrent Bandage of Hold dressings on scalp
Head with Two Bandage when assistance is not
available