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PURPOSE OF BANDAGES
Hold a dressing in place
Apply direct pressure over a dressing
Prevent or reduce swelling
Provide stability for an extremit
Extend (e.g. broken bones)
TYPES OF BANDAGES
ROLLER BANDAGES
Differ in sizes, material
(cotton, gauze),
Elasticity (non/elastic
roller bandage)
TRIANGULAR BANDAGES
Consists of a base, point, and
ends
BANDAGING
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BANDAGES
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BANDAGES
ADHESIVE TAPE
Often used to secure
bandages in place,
different types (paper,
Dermatologic, etc.)
ADHESIVE STRIPS
Used for small cuts,
combination of a dressing
and a bandage
COMMONLY USED MATERIAL
gauze
cotton
splints
casts
Parts of a Bandage
Bandages have 3 parts
Absorbent Pad
BANDAGES
Gauze
Tape
All three are needed for an effective bandage.
Bandages
I) Bandages promote healing by:
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Controlling bleeding and aiding hemostasis
Absorbing seepage protects the wound from infection and drying
Decreasing the possibility of self-trauma and self-inflicted injury
Decreasing swelling and edema (pooling of fluid under the wound)
Decreasing seroma or hematoma formation
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Seroma: An accumulation of lymphatic fluid under an incision
Hematoma: a localized swelling filled with blood
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BANDAGES
SIGNS THAT THE BANDAGE IS TOO TIGHT
Blue tinge to the fingernail/toenail
Blue or pale skin color
Tingling or loss of sensation
Coldness of the extremities
Inability to move the fingers/toes
Elastic Bandages
Gauze, cotton cloth, elastic wrapping
Length and width vary and are used according to body part and size
Sizes ranges 2, 3, 4, 6-inch width and 6 or 10-yard lengths
Should be stored rolled
Bandage selected should be free from wrinkles, seams and imperfections that could cause irritation
Applying a Bandage
Step 1: Control the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound.
Use a sterile pad
Hold it in place (w/ hand or bandage)
Keep in place until the bleeding stops
If the pad soaks through, put another pad over the top
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DO NOT remove the blood-soaked pad
It will also remove the platelets closing the wound!
Applying a Bandage
Step 2: Wound preparation
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Apply a gauze pad over the wound. Cut out a rectangular piece of gauze so it’s about 1
inch (2.5 cm) larger than the wound on each side. Gently press the gauze down so it
completely covers the wound.
Use a gauze pad on any wounds that are too large to cover with a smaller adhesive strip
bandage. Gauze pads are also effective for treating minor burns.
Applying a Bandage
Step 3: Apply the layers of the bandage:
Absorbent Pad
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Apply an unused, clean, and sterile pad that is larger than the injury over the
wound
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Hold in place with your hand until the gauze is in place
Gauze
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Wrap completely around the wound with gauze
Cover at least 1/3 of the previous loop of gauze with the overlying layer
Wrap at least 2-3 times, leaving enough space to fit two fingers (no more, no
less)
Tape
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If needed, wrap the gauze with enough tape to hold it in place.
Applying a Bandage
Step 4: Daily checks and replacements
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Replace bandages daily
Visually check the wound for the rate of healing and for possible infection
Bandaging
Will contribute to recovery of injuries
When applied incorrectly may cause discomfort, wound contamination, hamper healing
Must be firmly applied while still allowing circulation
Rules of Bandaging
Bandages must be changed every day or two
The wound must be kept clean and dry between changes
Swelling above or below the bandage means it is too tight.
Elastic bandages can be used to provide support for a variety scenarios:
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Ankle and foot spica
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Spiral bandage (spica)
Groin support
Shoulder spica
Elbow figure-eight
Gauze hand and wrist figure-eight
Cloth ankle wrap
Materials
Gauze- sterile pads for wounds, hold dressings in place (roller bandage) or padding for
prevention of blisters
Cotton cloth- ankle wraps, triangular and cravat bandages
Elastic bandages- extensible and very useful with sports; active bandages allowing for
movement; can provide support and compression for wound healing
Cohesive elastic bandage- exerts constant even pressure; 2 layer bandage that is self
adhering;
Elastic Bandage Application
Hold bandage in preferred hand with loose end extending from bottom of roll
Back surface of loose end should lay on skin surface
Pressure and tension should be standardized
Anchor are created by overlapping wrap
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Start anchor at smallest circumference of limb
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Elastic Bandage Application
The body part should be wrapped in the position of maximum contraction
More turns with moderate tension vs. fewer turns with maximum tension
Each turn should overlap by half to prevent separation
Circulation should be monitored when limbs are wrapped
Shoulder Arm Sling
Forearm support when a shoulder girdle injury exists
Also used when cervical sling is irritating
Sling and Swathe
Combination utilized to stabilize arm
Used in instances of shoulder dislocations and fractures
PURPOSE OF DRESSINGS
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Control bleeding
Prevent infection and contamination
Absorb blood and fluid drainage
Protect the wound from further injury
DRESSINGS
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DRESSINGS
TYPES OF DRESSINGS
GAUZE PADS
packages of various sizes, sterile
ADHESIVE STRIPS
A combination of both sterile dressing and a
bandage
TRAUMA DRESSINGS
Made of large, thick, absorbent, sterile material
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DRESSING/BANDAGE APPLICATION
Communication with a patient
Getting things ready
Washing hands
Comfortable position (patient/nurse)
GLOVES
Keep sterility if necessary/do not touch the wound
Wound cleaning
Dressing application
Bandaging
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Not all wounds heal equally. More serious wounds take longer to heal.
Individual factors also influence how quickly your body is able to recover from a wound,
including the following:
Age — younger pets usually heal faster than older pets
Nutrition — the body needs a good supply of vitamin C to make collagen.
Smoking —
Stress — large amounts of stress can delay the healing process (poor diet, poor care,
improper bedding, etc.)
Other infections or illnesses — diabetes, thyroid disease, high blood pressure, and
poor circulation, for
example can decrease a body’s ability to heal.
Wounds that are slow to heal could be symptomatic of greater problems.
Absorbent Pad
Absorbent Pad
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This part is necessary to prevent infection
Sterile nonstick pads like Tefla work best; any clean, absorbent material and lint-free is
fine
Paper towels and other paper products tend to stick to wounds and can cause damage
when removed
Gauze
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Gauze
Gauze exists to hold the absorbent pad in place.
Gauze is likely the easiest way to cause further injury if it is applied too tight
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This can cause the injury to swell, cutting off blood circulation and reducing the
immune response
It is too tight if you can’t easily slip one or two fingers under the bandage.
Try to overlap the gauze by 1/3 of its width each time around.
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Gauze (cont.)
If you don’t have gauze, other elastic-type materials work to temporarily hold the pad in place
until gauze can be retrieved
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The leg from a pantyhose would be an example of a material that would work if need
be.
Tape (cont.)
Be sure that the tape covers a portion of the wound of the bandage
This is necessary to prevent the bandage from being worked loose and removed.
As with the gauze, make sure it is not too tight
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Use the two-finger test to ensure a proper fit
Remember, a wound needs to breathe!
Triangle and Cravat Bandages
The cotton cloth can be substituted if roller bandages are not available
First aid device, due to ease and speed of application
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Primarily used for arm slings
Cervical arm sling
Shoulder arm sling
Sling and swathe
Cervical Arm Sling
Designed to support forearm, wrist and hand injuries
Bandage placed around the neck and under bent arm to be supported.