Add to favorites

Do-it-yourself cotton-gauze bandage: recommendations for use. Rules for applying bandages to different types of wounds How to apply bandages for wounded limbs

Basic principles of applying a bandage:

Make sure the person is in a comfortable position and understands what you are doing.
Apply the bandage from the side of the wound so that you do not have to reach across your body for it.
Maintain the injured part of the body in the same position as it will be after applying the bandage.
Use the correct size bandage—different parts of the body require different bandage widths.
If possible, when bandaging an arm or leg, keep your fingers open so you can easily check the circulation.
Apply the bandage tightly, but not too tightly, and secure the bandage at the end by tucking it under and tying the ends in a knot. You can also use a safety pin, adhesive tape, or a special fastener.
After applying the bandage, ask the person if it is too tight and check the circulation by pressing on the nail or skin and waiting until the area turns pale. If the color does not return immediately, the bandage is probably too tight and needs to be loosened. Limbs may swell after injury, so check circulation every 10 minutes after applying the bandage.

There are three main types of dressings: circular, splint and scarf.

Circular bandages

There are three types of bandages for circular dressing:

rare weave fabric (gauze bandage)- provides wound ventilation, but does not put pressure on the wound and does not support the joints;
elastic bandage conforms to the body and is used for fixation of bandages and support for soft tissue injuries, such as sprains;
rubber bandage used for reliable support of damaged joints.

How to apply a circular bandage:

keep the folded part of the bandage above the damaged area, and the unfolded part below it;
wrap the damaged area twice to keep the end of the bandage in place;
continue wrapping the limb, applying the bandage in a spiral so that each new layer covers the previous layer by one to two thirds;
at the end, apply another layer of bandage and secure the ends.

When applying a bandage to your elbows and knees (to secure the bandage or for a sprain), bend the joint slightly, apply the bandage in a figure eight and wrap most of the limb on either side of the joint.

When applying a bandage to the hand (to secure the bandage or for a sprain), start at the back of the wrist and apply the bandage diagonally across the back of the hand to the end of the little finger, without covering the thumb.

Splints

Splints are used to secure bandages on fingers and toes or to support injured joints. They are made in the form of a fabric tube without seams. They are also elastic for use on joints such as the ankle. Splints, made of gauze in the form of a tube, are placed on the fingers and toes, but they do not apply pressure or stop bleeding.

You may need to cut it to size before applying the splint. Some splints come with a special device (applicator), which is installed on the damaged area and helps to apply a bandage.

Headbands

Bandages can be used to bandage large areas of the body, to support limbs, or to secure a bandage.

If you use a scarf to support your arm, make it wide.

ask the person to press their arms to their chest and support the injured arm while you apply the bandage;
pull the bandage under your arm and behind your neck;
Stretch the second half of the bandage over your arm so that both ends meet at the shoulder, and tie them with a knot;
tuck the tails of the knot under the elbow or pin them with a pin.

If you are using a scarf to support a leg or to cover a large area of the body, fold it in half lengthwise so that the end of the triangle reaches the middle of the long corner. Then fold it in half again in the same direction to create a wide strip.

A bandage is a medical device that is used to protect the damaged surface from infection entering the body. It is important to follow the rules for applying bandages to wounds to provide first aid to the victim.

Treatment of injuries begins with disinfection and primary surgical treatment. Depending on the type of damage, further treatment tactics are determined. Carrying out initial treatment of the wound and applying a bandage is the most acceptable method of therapy in case of minor injuries. In case of complications, surgery may be necessary with sutures to tighten the edges of the injury.

Depending on the material, there are: soft bandage types of dressings, pressure hemostatic, adhesive and waterproof.

Bandage sterile

Apply to stop bleeding, to fix a limb after injury. An assortment of different materials is presented in the pharmacy: elastic, sterile and non-sterile bandages.

A sterile wound dressing ensures the regeneration process. Compliance with the rules of asepsis and antisepsis during application protects the surface from the penetration of infection from the external environment.

Depending on the nature of the roll, the bandage is classified:

single-headed - presented in the form of a round roller, the second side is free, not fixed;
double-ended - rolled with two ends towards the center for easy circular dressing.

There are wound dressings made from gauze bandages: cap, circular, sling-shaped, ascending, descending, figure-eight, spica-shaped, Deso, T-shaped.

Pressing

It is worth applying pressure bandages to the wound for minor injuries in emergency situations in order to temporarily stop bleeding before hospitalization. An individual dressing package can be found in the driver’s first aid kit or made from available material. The basis includes:

sterile sponge;
a cotton-gauze pad or a piece of fabric folded into a tight roll;
bandage for fastening to the skin.

The rules for applying pressure material state that for venous bleeding it can be used on a wound of any location, while for arterial bleeding it can be used only on the extremities.

Self-adhesive

Self-adhesive wound dressing is a material that adheres to the skin for the purpose of fixation. There are several overlay methods:

Using adhesive liquid: Cleol, Collodion, BF-6. The sterile cut is glued along the edge and applied to the skin. The bandage is easily separated from the wound with ether or alcohol. Among the disadvantages is the high risk of an allergic reaction to the components of the substance. It is necessary to treat the skin with an antiseptic after removing the glue.
Band-Aid. Before application, it is necessary to thoroughly dry the area of the wound and the skin around it, since the edges may not stick tightly or peel off when the adhesive part comes into contact with moisture.

Advantage of adhesive plaster:

lack of air penetration into the wound;
reliable fixation;
wide range of application of this bandage on various parts of the body;
no additional material or fastening required;
can be applied to the delicate skin of the face, neck, groin, fingers and toes.

Among the disadvantages, one can note an allergy to the components of the adhesive substance. Do not use the patch on the scalp due to poor adhesion and painful removal.

Waterproof

Waterproof material is applied for minor injuries, when the surface is already beginning to dry out, there is no deep extensive damage to soft tissues. Dressings protect the wound from infection and mechanical irritation when bathing in a bath, swimming in a pool or open water. The materials have good protective properties, absorb exudate, and do not allow moisture to pass through from the outside.

Features of applying bandages for various wounds

The manipulation must be performed by a specially trained person. It is advisable to bandage the damaged area when visiting a doctor. The wound is first treated with aseptic solutions and cleaned of foreign objects: fragments, pieces of clothing, dirt, shotgun pellets.

The bandage should completely cover the wound surface from external action. Select the material: viscose, gauze, elastic oilcloth.

The victim is placed in a comfortable position. When applying, the compression rules are followed - the bandaged area should not turn pale or blue, or lose sensitivity.

The algorithm for effective bandaging of a limb is to apply the material in the direction from the periphery to the center: from the foot to the thigh, from the hand to the shoulder. Each turn half overlaps the previous one.

The basic rule when bandaging burns is that the bandage should never come into contact with the damaged areas. Do not apply fibrous, loose materials, which can easily be soldered when the wound dries.

Preference should be given to the aseptic, antiseptic option, but in the absence of one, in emergency cases it is permissible to use any available means. Then the victim must be taken to the hospital.

When to apply pressure bandages to a wound

Indications for the use of pressure dressings are as follows:

bleeding of severe or moderate severity - capillary, venous, arterial;
in case of serious massive bleeding from large vessels of the groin, forearm, and axillary region, pressure bandages are temporarily used;
in the postoperative period;
when a wound is combined with an open injury to the pleural cavity, during chest decompression.

Contraindications and rationality for long-term use of pressure compresses can be determined by a specialist doctor. After stopping the bleeding, you should immediately go to the hospital.

Review of specific pharmaceutical dressings

The pharmaceutical industry offers a wide range of products for various types of wounds:

product name	Material characteristics
TenderWet, Hydroclean hartmann	Multi-layer hypoallergenic bandage from the super-absorbent class. The structure allows the continuous release of disinfectant liquid with the absorption of wound exudate. The necrotic areas are moistened, softened and rejected.
PermaFoam	The spongy appearance of the material, due to its low adhesion, stimulates the growth of granulation tissue and, when applied, protects the wound from secondary pathogenic microflora.
It affects injury by converting calcium alginate into gel masses that bind the exudative component, which helps cleanse the damaged surface and accelerate regeneration.
Hydrocoll Thin hartmann, Comfeel Plus	Hydrocolloid material for application to trauma is represented by a polyurethane membrane, which is capable of allowing air to pass through, but does not allow liquids and infectious particles to penetrate inside.
Нydrosorb, Сosmopor	Contains a sorption gel inside to absorb exudate from wounds, disinfect, and moisturize its surface.
Tegaderm, Medakom, Farmaplast, Voskosorb	Made from non-woven material. After application, it effectively absorbs discharge from the wound surface of any nature. It has hypoallergenic properties and is widely used in surgery.

The choice of a certain type of dressing is based on the severity and characteristics of the damage, the speed of healing, and the presence of an exudative component.

How often should I change

In cases of active discharge of exudate from the wound, dressing must be carried out daily. For minor injuries to the chest, abdomen, or head, apply a bandage every 7-10 days. The frequency of application of fixing material depends on the presence of complications. After surgery, the bandage is changed the next day. Then the procedure is repeated every two days until the stitches are removed.

The process of treating wounds is determined individually by the attending physician. You should not apply it yourself in case of serious injuries to avoid negative reactions.

What is the bandage for?
The bandage protects the wound from secondary infection, which is possible through contact with clothing or other objects. Do not touch the wound with your hands, even after disinfecting your hands. Blood clots, which can close the lumen of blood vessels and prevent bleeding, should not be removed from the wound.

How to apply a bandage correctly?
Before applying a bandage, the edges of the wound (but not the wound surface!) must be treated with iodine, alcohol, brilliant green or any other disinfectant liquid. Washing the wound does not matter for bruises, lacerations and gunshot wounds. The fight against primary infections is carried out during primary surgical treatment of the wound. Bite wounds should be washed with warm water and soap several times at intervals of 5-10 minutes. The washed wound is covered with a sterile bandage of several layers, a thin layer of cotton wool is placed on top and everything is secured with a bandage.

If sterile material is not available, you can use a clean piece of cotton fabric ironed with a hot iron. The cotton wool is placed only on top of a sterile bandage, and not on the wound. Cotton wool does not allow germs to pass through from the outside and absorbs discharge from the wound. A well-applied bandage covers the wound and the area around the wound quite widely, and with its pressure it brings the edges of the wound closer together. If the bandage gets wet, you should not remove it, but put additional cotton wool on top and bandage it. After applying the bandage, the wounded person should be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible for medical or specialized medical care.

How to apply a bandage to a wound at home?
If the circumstances of the injury require applying a bandage at home, it is necessary to prepare tools and dressing material. To properly apply a bandage you need: sterile napkins or a sterile bandage, adhesive tape, means for securing the bandage (for example, pins) and disinfectant solutions: alcohol or iodine, you can even use vodka or brilliant green (whatever is on hand at this moment), as well as scissors and tweezers. You should carefully wash your hands in warm water and soap (if there is no running water from the tap, you should pour clean water on your hands), and then wipe with alcohol, iodine or vodka.

When dressing a wound, you should constantly be aware of the possibility of infection. After washing the edges of the wound with a disinfectant, apply a sterile napkin, removed from the package with sterile tweezers directly during dressing. It is best to use ready-made sterile wipes, which are available in pharmacies. The scissors must also be sterile (they can be treated by boiling well for 10-15 minutes). Sometimes purulent wounds, as prescribed by a doctor, are washed with sterile solutions, for example, rivanol or other disinfectants.

How to prepare sterile material at home?
Preparing sterile material at home is a rather difficult and troublesome task. Pharmacies have ready-made packages of sterile wipes of any size. They should be stored in a dry and clean place, preferably in a closed, sterile jar, and opened immediately before use. If sterile material is not available, if emergency assistance is needed, you can iron pieces of clean, washed cotton cloth or gauze pads with a hot iron.

Metal objects (scissors, tweezers) are boiled in water for 10-15 minutes in a special sterilizer. If you don’t have it, you can boil it in an aluminum pan, placing a gauze napkin in 2-3 layers on the bottom.

Head bruises are easy for some people, but for others they are seriously injured and need to be bandaged. They vary depending on the location, severity of the lesion, and the purpose of application. Therefore, desmurgy considers various types of dressings. Particular attention is paid to situations when dressing the head with a bandage is performed on bleeding wounds so that infection does not get into the open wound.

Dressings are classified according to the purpose of their application:

medicinal, impregnated with ointments, creams for rapid wound healing;
protective, protecting the site of impact from possible external infection;
pressing to stop bleeding.

Headbands are traditionally applied using the most common material - medical bandages. They are always available and have the proper level of sterility. If you don’t have wide gauze bandages on hand, you can use a soft cloth for a bandage. But it is better if your head is in a bandage - this is the most correct way to protect against infection. The gauze or cloth used should promote blood clotting and protect damaged skin from infection. To do this, impregnating gauze or fabric with Baneocin or Levomekol ointments will be effective. After this, make a bandage, avoiding squeezing the head.

Types of head dressings

The most common types and techniques of dressing:

cruciform on the back of the head;
eye bandaging;
"bonnet" technique;
ear bandaging;
bridle technique;
circular cap;
Hippocrates' cap.

They are all used for their own purpose, and the bandage on the head must be applied in compliance with sanitary and hygienic rules.

How to apply a Hippocratic cap and a cap using the “bonnet” technique, shows a video from lectures on Desmurgy:

Indications for applying a cruciate bandage are wounds to the back of the head, or the postoperative period after damage to the cervical vertebrae. To apply such a bandage, you need a long bandage, 10 cm wide.

It is easy to bandage the head if the person is conscious:

Place the patient on a chair facing you.
Hold the edge of the bandage with your left hand and the spool with your right hand.
Place the bandage on the back of your head and make two turns clockwise.
Make several turns, each time applying the bandage to the previous turn by 2/3.
Tie a bandage on your forehead.

Head injuries are accompanied by eye injuries. If the left eye is damaged, the bandage is applied from right to left, and if the other eye is damaged, vice versa. If the patch is applied to one eye, it is called monocular.

When applying a bandage, a simple technique is used: bandaging the head begins directly from the site of injury towards the back of the head, passes under the ear through the cheek and returns to the sore eye. This creates a circular bandage. According to this algorithm, you need to make several circles and fix the ends of the bandage.

If both eyes are damaged, you need to make a fixation circle. After this, it is gradually recommended to wrap the left eye with a bandage, then slowly cover the right eye with gauze from top to bottom.

Performing the “bonnet” bandage

Bandaging using the “bonnet” technique

Applying a bonnet dressing is similar to the circular dressing technique. This bandage is used for damage to the frontal and occipital parts.

The turns of the bandage are carried under the tape near the ear and return to the same tape on the other side. The algorithm of movements is designed to gradually cover the entire scalp with a bandage.

The ends of the bandage are secured to the chin, which creates the appearance of a “bonnet.”

Ear bandaging

If the ear is damaged, a bandage is applied in several circles around the head, then the bandage is transferred to the affected ear. This is the classic ear bandaging.

There is also a technique called Neapolitan. She is the one shown in the photo. First, thick covers are made on the wounded ears. The pads are then secured with several turns of bandage. The wrap around the forehead is needed to secure the bandage so that it stays tight while transporting the patient.

It is noticeable in the photo that modern polyurethane bandages were used. However, in their absence, using the same method, you can make a bandage with ordinary bandages.

Bandaging using the bridle technique

Applying a bandage using the bridle technique is quite simple:

the bandage is wrapped around the occipital and frontal parts;
the next movement is to the chin, around the temples, from left to right;
to subsequently secure the bandage, it must be passed through the neck and wrapped around the head, securing it to the chin;
According to this algorithm, several turns of the bandage are carried out;
A bandage is secured to the temple on the uninjured side.

This technique is used to injure different parts of the head - face, jaw, forehead.

Simple circular dressing

Bandaging the head with a circular bandage is used for injuries in the occipital, frontal or temporal lobes. It is the most common type of dressing and is quite easy to apply.

Simple dressing technique:

a strip of bandage is placed loosely in the middle of the head, with the initial end on the forehead;
Bandaging is performed in circles around the entire head. If necessary, rotate the bandage;
The ends of the bandage are secured to the forehead.

This dressing is done for various injuries. Its purpose is to cover the injured part of the head, to protect it from possible infection from the surrounding atmosphere.

The peculiarity of such a bandage and, at the same time, its complexity, is that the bandage must be applied simultaneously with two rolls of tape. The video shows how guys with 4 hands make a tricky interweaving of the ends of two rolls, and with this formed knot they begin bandaging.

There is another way: the first bandage is passed several circles, and the second is passed through the vault of the skull; after a few turns, the two bandages intersect in the forehead area. Here they are overlapped, after which the second bandage is passed through the first and directed to the back of the head. The same overlap is made at the back, and the second bandage is passed under the first. Circular movements are performed in the same quantity; as practice shows, 3-4 circles are enough. This bandaging method is used for injuries to the parietal part of the head.

A head wound requires quick first aid to the victim, often this is stopping the bleeding, which determines the preservation of a person’s life. You must quickly apply a fixing bandage to the damaged part of the head, call an ambulance and send the victim to the nearest medical facility.

A bandage is considered to be a medical or improvised means, the purpose of which is to secure dressing material on a wound, increase pressure on blood vessels during bleeding, fixate arms, legs and other parts to ensure their immobility; prevention of secondary infection of the wound surface, protecting it from adverse environmental influences; warnings of edema.

They are classified according to different parameters:

By duration of use(temporary, permanent).
By purpose:
- strengthening (plaster, adhesive, bandage);
- pressing;
- immobilizers (splints, plaster).
According to the method of securing the dressing material:
- stickers;
- adhesive;
- bandage (gauze, mesh, tubular-mesh, fabric bandage);
- kerchiefs (gauze or cloth in the form of a kerchief);
- sling-shaped;
- T-shaped.
According to the properties of the materials used(soft or hard).
By application method:
- circular;
- spiral;
- crossing;
- spicate, etc.

In any first aid kit, in addition to a wide variety of medications (painkillers, antipyretics, anti-inflammatory, sedatives, etc.), there should be dressings. Their mandatory list:

dressing package;
bandages: sterile, elastic mesh-tubular;
sterile cotton wool;
bactericidal patch;
a rubber tourniquet for temporarily squeezing large blood vessels to reduce blood loss;
a splint placed on an arm or leg for a fracture or dislocation.

The kit can be supplemented with a regular adhesive plaster, non-sterile gauze and medical tubular knitted bandages, brilliant green, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide.
All these accessories may be needed for dressings in cases of injuries that are accompanied by bleeding, dislocations, fractures and swelling or immobilization of the area.

Basic rules for applying bandages

Everyone should have the skills to apply the simplest dressings. They require certain skills, otherwise the bandage will not hold, will weaken, slip, or, conversely, by squeezing, disrupt blood circulation and even cause pain. To avoid this, you should master these simple rules:

Wash your hands well with soap (if not possible, wipe thoroughly with a damp cloth with antibacterial properties).
Treat the skin around the wound or site of disease with a disinfectant (alcohol, vodka). If the wound is fresh, then with iodine.
Position yourself so that you can see the victim's face and the area to be bandaged. The surface to be bandaged, if possible in this situation, should be at the level of the chest of the person doing the bandaging.
The end of the bandage is held in the left hand, and the rolled one in the right. First, the free part is applied, fixed with two turns clockwise, and then, moving the right hand and helping it with the left, partially covering the previous round, they move forward. The last two turns, like the first, overlap each other. The rest of the bandage must be cut (not torn!) lengthwise and the bandage secured.
When applying the bandage, the legs should be in a straight position, and the arms should be bent.
A correctly executed bandage completely secures the dressing material, does not move or compress damaged tissues, has an aesthetic appearance, and if applied for a long time - is marked with the time and date of application.

The rules for applying more complex bandages are not known to everyone, and they can be mastered well only after long-term special training.

Some types of dressings and application rules

A soft bandage (sticker) is used to cover clean wounds that have undergone treatment: stitches after surgery, opened boils, etc. A pad of cotton wool and gauze is covered with a 2-layer bandage and glued with a special compound.

Band-aids are used in similar situations. Adhesive tape strips are attached to dry skin. Most often, such dressings are used for rib fractures and incised wounds of the abdomen.

A gauze or fabric piece in the shape of a triangle is the main element of scarves. With their help, they hold the dressing material, the injured arm, and foot. The hand (or foot) is placed on the spread out scarf. One of the ends of the scarf is wrapped on the back side, the other two are tied. If the arm is injured, the bandage is attached to the neck, and if the foot is injured, just above the ankle.
A contour bandage is a good painless way to protect the surface of large burn lesions. It is made in the form of panties or a corset to secure the dressing material along the contour of the injury.

T-shaped - applied to the lower part of the body for injuries or after operations on the rectum, genitals or perineum. One piece of bandage is fixed on the belt, the other secures the dressing in the perineal area, and is fastened to the “belt” in front.

The most common types of dressings are bandages. Bandages of different widths are used for them. The application rules are as follows: bandage begins with a narrower part, gradually moving to a surface with a larger circumference for applying a bandage. Each next turn should lie on the previous one. This bandage is firmly fixed at the very beginning and at the end of the procedure.

To treat the crown, back of the head, nose or chin, a sling-shaped bandage is used, made from a bandage or a strip of fabric with longitudinally cut ends.

Circular bandages are considered the most reliable. Their strength is due to the fact that the turns of the bandage lie one on top of the other. Suitable for dressing any part of the body.

Spiral ones are similar to circular ones. But after several turns, the bandage is tilted slightly to the side, covering the one in front of it by half. Most often they are applied to the limbs.

A cross-shaped or spica-shaped bandage is used to bandage the hands, ankles, neck, and chest area.

A tortoiseshell bandage can be seen on a bandaged elbow or knee.

Fast-hardening substances (starch, plaster) or hard materials (metal, plastic, etc.) make dressings rigid. They are applied during transportation or to immobilize a part of the body for a long period.

Every person should know and be able to do the simplest dressings, since injury can occur anywhere, even at home.