DEFINITION OF TERMS

Bandage

- is a strip of cloth used to wrap some part of the body

- available in various widths, most commonly 1.5 to 7.5 cm (0.5 to 3 in.)

- usually applied in rolls for easy application to a body part

Cravat

- a bandage folded several times

Sling

- a very useful in first aid work and consists in reality of a triangular bandage

- applied by placing the base of the triangle under the wrist and the apex toward the elbow

- the arms of the sling are then carried upward around the neck and tied
Bandaging

- act of applying bandage

IMPORTANCE OF BANDAGING
- support or immobilize an injury to bones, joints, or muscles

- applying pressure to stop bleeding

- securing a dressing

- retaining warmth

TYPES OF BANDAGES
- adhesive compresses or strips for small wounds that combine a dressing with an adhesive
bandage

- adhesive tape rolls

- tubular bandages for finger or toe
 - elastic bandages

- triangular bandages (or folded square cloths)

- any cloth or other material improvised to meet purposes of bandaging

TURNS AVAILABLE IN BANDAGING

- Circular turns

- used to anchor bandages and to terminate them

- Spiral turns

- used to bandage parts of the body that are fairly uniform in circumference, for example,
the upper arm or upper leg
- Spiral reverse turns
- used to bandage cylindrical parts of the body that are not uniform in circumference, for
example the lower leg or forearm
- Recurrent turns

- used to cover distal parts of the body, for example, the end of a finger, the skull, or the
stump of an amputation
- Figure-of-eight turns
- used to bandage an elbow, knee, or ankle, because they permit some movement after
application

GENERAL PRINCIPLES IN TECHNIQUE OF BANDAGING

- The bandage must be applied snugly, since it stretches after a period of a few hours,
particularly if there is motion of the part
- If the bandage is applied too tightly, the blood supply to the parts distal may be seriously
interfered with, resulting in grave complications including gangrene and paralysis

- Most bandages should be reinforced with adhesive to prevent shredding of the edges and
to prevent undue stretching of the gauze

- When an open wound is present on an extremity, a dressing will have been applied to the
wound and fixation achieved with a bandage
- The bandage should be applied with the limb in the position in which it is to be carried
- Pain usually is experienced within a few minutes after the application of a tight bandage
- A bandage which is too tight will produce coldness of the extremity and within an hour or
two, perhaps numbness and tingling
- There are several turns available for bandaging: circular turn, spiral bandage, spiral
reverse bandage, figure-of-eight turns, recurrent turns

- Whenever possible, bandage part in its normal position, with the joint slightly flexed to
avoid putting strain on the ligaments and the muscles of the joint

- Whenever possible, leave the end of the body part exposed so that you will be able to
determine the adequacy of the blood circulation to the extremity
- Always bandage body parts by working from the distal to the proximal end to aid the
return flow of venous blood

- Bandage with even pressure to prevent interference with blood circulation

- Cover the dressings with bandages at least 5 cm beyond the edges of the dressing to
prevent the dressing and wound from becoming contaminated
- Face the client when applying a bandage to maintain uniform tension and the appropriate
direction of the bandage

- Pad between skin surfaces and over bony prominences to prevent friction from the
bandage and consequent abrasion of the skin