BANDAGING

A LITTLE HISTORY

A history of bandaging

is associated with the

ancient Egypt where the

mummification was

developed. This process led

to advances in knowledge of

anatomy and to good

bandaging skills.

BANDAGE CONSTRUCTION

Cotton bandage

Bandage containing viscose and nylon

A knitted bandage containing viscose and nylon.

Bandage:

Holds dressing in place over a wound

Creates pressure that control bleeding

Help keeps the edges of the wound closed

Secures a splint to an injured part of the body

Provides support for an injured part of the body

Properly applied bandages:

•Promote healing

•Prevent severe complications

•Help victim stay comfortable

“Bandages should be properly applied and well secured.”

Two most common mistakes in bandaging

1.Bandaging too loosely

2.Bandaging too tightly

SIGNS THAT A BANDAGE IS TOO TIGHT:

The skin around the bandage becomes pale or bluish in color (cyanotic)

The victim complains of pain, usually only a few minutes after you apply

the bandage.

The skin beyond the bandage (distal) is cold

The skin beyond the bandage (distal) is tingling or numb

The victim cannot move his or her fingers or toes.

TRIANGULAR BANDAGES

Made from unbleached cotton cloth approximately 40 inches

square; square is folded diagonally, then cut along the fold.

A triangular bandage is easy to apply and can be handled so

the part over the dressing won’t be soiled.

When applied correctly, a triangular bandage can be used on

most parts of the body and does not slip off.

Can be used fully opened or folded into a cravat;

COMMONLY USE TO:

Support fractures and dislocations

Apply splints

Form slings

Make improvised tourniquets

In an EMERGENCY you can make a triangular bandage from:

Clean handkerchief

Cotton towel

Clean piece of shirt

If a regular bandage is too short, tie a second bandage to one end.

CRAVAT BANDAGES

Folded, a triangular bandage can be a cravat

To make a cravat, make a 1- inch fold along the base of the

triangular bandage

To make a wide cravat, bring the point to the center of the

folded base, then place the point underneath the fold.

To make medium cravat, make a wide cravat, then fold

lengthwise along the line midway between the base and the

new top of the bandage

To make narrow cravat, make a medium cravat, then repeat

the lengthwise fold one more time.

ROLLER BANDAGES

The most popular and easy to use bandage is a

self adhering (non- elastic), form fitting roller

bandage.

Comes in variety of widths and length ranging from

½ inch to 12 inches wide and as long as 10 yards.

APPLYING ROLLER BANDAGE OVER A DRESSING:

1. Place the end of the roller bandage on the dressing,

then wrap it around the body part in a circular fashion

1. Criscross the bandage over itself as you circle until

the complete wound area is covered. Do not cover the

fingers & toes

1. Fasten the bandage in place with tape

PRINCIPLES OF BANDAGING

Bleeding is controlled

Always wash your hands before bandaging a wound

Bandages are not placed directly against the wound

Wounds are bandaged snugly, but not too tightly

Bandages are not too loose;

The bandage covers all edges of the dressing

Tips of the fingers and toes are left exposed

A small bandage on arm or leg is covered with a larger bandage

The body part is bandage in a position in which it is to remain

Ask the victims how the bandage feels

Never use a circular bandage around the neck

SPLINTING

A device use to immobilize and support (prevent movement of)

a fracture, dislocation or severe sprains.

Can be soft, rigid, commercially manufactured or improvised

from virtually any object that can provide stability.

Help control bleeding.

Help control pain.

To prevent further damage to tissues from the movement of bone

ends

Any victim with suspected facture, dislocation or severe pain

should be splinted before being moved.

GENERAL RULES IN SPLINTING

Do not splint if it cause more pain for the victim

assess the pulse and sensation below the injury.

Splint an injury in the position you found it.

Remove or cut away all clothing around the injury site

Cover all wounds including open fractures, with sterile dressing

before applying a splint,

If there is severe deformity or the distal extremity is cyanotic or

lacks pulses, aligned the injured limb with gentle traction.

Never intentionally replace protruding bone ends.

Apply the splint before trying to move the victim

When in doubt, splint the injury.

If the victim shows sign of shock, align the victim n the

normal anatomical position and arrange for immediate

transport without taking the time to apply a splint.

FOUR GENERAL TYPES OF SPLINT

1. RIGID SPLINTS

Commercially manufactured splints made of wood, aluminum,

wire, plastic, cardboard or compressed wood fibers

2. TRACTION SPLINTS

Gently pull in the direction opposite the injury, alleviating pain,

reducing blood loss and minimizing further injury.

3. PNEUMATIC (AIR) SPLINTS

Should only be used on fractures where there is no deformity,

but immobilization is needed

4. IMPROVISED SPLINTS

An improvised splint must be:

Light in weight, but firm and rigid

Long enough to extend past the joints and prevent

movement on either side of the fracture

As wide as the thickest part of the fractured limb

Padded well so the inner surfaces are not in contact

with the skin

HAZARDS IN IMPROPER SPLINTING

Compress the nerves, tissues and blood vessels under the splint

Delay a transport of the victim who has a life- threatening injury

Reduce distal circulation

Aggravate the bone or joint injury

Cause or aggravate damage to the tissues

SPLINTING A JOINT

Stabilize the joint manually

If the distal extremity is cyanotic (bluish) or lacks pulses, align the joint with gentle traction

Immobilize the site of the injury with a splint.

Immobilize the bones both above And below the injured joint

After applying the splint, reassess pulse and sensation every few Minutes throughout care.

Thank You….