You probably already know what a bandage is for – to simply wrap around a limb or a body part to help secure a wound or injury, but did you know that a bandage comes in different forms and materials too? This is because they’re designed to fit different kinds of injuries. Bandages are typically used to:
- Hold a dressing in place over a wound.
- Create pressure over a bleeding wound.
- Secure a splint to an injured part of the body.
- Provide compression to an injured part of the body.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- A bandage should not be used as a dressing or be placed directly over a wound.
- A bandage must be applied with proper tightness so it neither stops blood circulation not slip.
Here are the three kinds of bandages and their uses which can help you decide what to include in you first aid kit:
Roller Bandage
A roller bandage can hold a dressing, create pressure, secure a splint, and provide compression. It is the most commonly used among all three because it is easy to use as it only comes in a strip of material that can be rolled into a form of a cylinder continuously until the desired thickness and coverage is achieved. It comes in different sizes to fit all parts of the body such as the fingers, toes, hands, feet, limbs and other large parts of the body.
There are different types of roller bandages:
- Conforming bandage – A thick elastic bandage that is designed to follow the shape of the body and provide compression and support.
- Crepe bandage – A thin elastic bandage that conforms to the body’s contour – similar as the as crepe bandage but not as thick.
- Open wove bandage – A non-stretch cotton weave fabric that provides good breathability. It is not ideal for chaffing-prone areas like the shoulders, elbows, and other jointed area.
- Cohesive bandage – A material that sticks to itself but not to skin or hair. It does not need tape to secure the bandage. it is also a thick material that provides compression and support.
Triangular Bandage
A triangular bandage is a piece of cloth cut into a right-angled triangle. It is used for the temporary or permanent bandaging of the wound. It is also mainly used to immobilize bone fractures or as a sling for the support of an injured body part. It is also a very versatile bandage as it can be folded in different shapes and length and be knotted from different edges to fit a certain fracture or injury – the most popular would be the arm sling. It could also be cut to make a different combinations and knots.
Tubular Bandage
A tubular bandage has the same use as the crepe roller bandage. The main difference is that it is a not a strip but a continuous or seamless fabric tube which is mainly used to hold dressings or splints on to limbs. The tubular bandage needs an applicator for it to be properly applied. This bandage could be stretchy or non-stretchy. The stretchable ones gives good support and pressure to a sprain, fracture, or bleeding.
Browse through our wide variety of bandages and all other first aid kit contents!
Source:
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/how-do-i-apply-a-bandage/
https://irp.fas.org/doddir/milmed/bandage.pdf