DRESSINGS

AND
BANDAGES

01/11/2024
1
 Learning objectives

At the end of this chapter, the learners will be able to:

1. Define dressing and bandaging.
2. Discuss the purposes of dressing & bandaging.
3. Discuss the general principles of bandaging.
4. Perform d/t applications of bandages.

01/11/2024 2
 Dressing

Definition :It is the immediate protective cover placed over

an open wound.
Sterile dressings are those which are free from germs prior
to use.
Clean dressings are those which make use of a clean
procedure than sterile procedure to dress the wound.

01/11/2024 3
 Purpose of Dressings
 To assist in the control of bleeding
 To absorb blood & wound secretions
 To prevent additional contamination
 To relieve pain
Types of dressing
a) Adhesive dressing used for dressing small cuts &
grazes.
b) Non adhesive dressing used to dress large size area
wound.

01/11/2024 4
 Cont’d…

Adhesive dressing Non-adhesive dressing

01/11/2024 5
 Dressing procedure
 To apply clean dressing at home,
• wash hand
• boiling the dressing materials for 15 min.
• then drying the dressing materials w/out contamination.
 If available,
• Ironed clothes or the inner surface of a folded cloth can be
used for immediate case.

NB. Do not touch or breath or cough on the surface of a

dressing that is to be placed next to wound.

01/11/2024 6
Bandages
 Are a strip of woven material used to hold a wound
dressing or splint in place.

01/11/2024 7
 Functions of bandages

• To assist in the control of bleeding

• To absorb blood & wound secretion
• To prevent additional contamination
• Relives pain
• Control or reduce swelling
• Helps to lift & transport casualty
• Secure dressing & splint in position
• Assist in immobilization

01/11/2024 8
 Types of Bandages

 The most useful and commercially available bandages

include:
A. Elastic Bandages

01/11/2024 9
 Cont’d…
 They are expensive
 can be laundered & used repeatedly for a number of
purposes.
 In using the first -aider must take great care not to
stretch the material too tightly.
 Usually in roles of 1 meter long & 3, 5 or 8 cm
wide.

01/11/2024 10
 Cont’d…
B. Gauze
 can be used as a bandage, almost on any part of the
body.
 Never apply wet gauze b/c it shrink as it dries &
become too tight.

01/11/2024 11
 Cont’d…
Gauze bandage can be applied in the form of :-

Circular bandages
Spiral bandages
Figure of eight bandages
Finger tip bandages

01/11/2024 12
 Cont’d,,,,,

C. Triangular Bandages(cravat bandage)

 Are useful as an emergency cover for the entire scalp,

and foot or any large areas.
 Also is used as a sling for fracture or other injury of
the arm or hand.
 Can be used as a circular, spiral or figure of eight
bandage.
 Can also be used as a tie for a splint, as a constricting
band or as a tourniquet.
01/11/2024 13
 Cravat bandage

01/11/2024 14
 Cont’d,,,,

D. A binder of muslin (many tailed bandage)

 a broad, evenly shaped bandage with both ends split into

strips of equal size and number.
 The bandage is placed on the abdomen, chest, or limb, the
ends may be overlapped and secured.
 To be applied to the chest or abdomen
 It is rarely used to cover large area of abdomen & chest.

01/11/2024 15
 Binder of Muslin

01/11/2024 16
 Application of Bandages

General Principles
A bandage should be snug not too tight or too loose.
To ensure that circulation is not interfered:
Leave the person’s fingertips & toes exposed.
Watch for swelling, change of color & coldness of the
tips of fingers or toes.
Loosen bandages immediately if there is any change.
Never apply a tight circular bandaged about a person’s
neck. It may cause strangulation.

01/11/2024 17
Methods of applying bandages on different locations

A. Arm Sling

1. Prepare a triangular bandage.

2. Place one end of the bandage over uninjured shoulder
3. let the other end hang down in front of the chest parallel
to the side of the body.
4. Carry the point behind the elbow of the injured arm.

01/11/2024 18
 … Cont.
5. Carry the second end of the bandage up over the
other shoulder
6. tie the two ends together at the side of the neck not
over the spine.
7. Bring the point of the sling and tie it.
8. Make sure the ends of the fingers extend just beyond
the base.
9. In all cases of fore arm or hand injury adjust the
sling.

01/11/2024 19
 Application of arm slings

01/11/2024 20
 B. Triangular Bandage for the Scalp & Fore Head

 Fold a hem about 5 cm wide along the base.

 Place, compress & put the dressing in place with the
hem on the outside.
 Place the bandage on the head
 The middle of the base lies on the forehead close
down to the eyebrows & the point hangs down the
back.
01/11/2024 21
 Application of bandages for scalp and forehead

01/11/2024 22
 C .Cravat Bandage for Forehead, Ears or Eyes

1. Place the center of the cravat over the compress, that

covers the wound.
2. Carry the ends around to the opposite side of the head &
cross them.
3. Bring them back to the starting point & tie them.

01/11/2024 23
 Application of Cravat Bandage for forehead, ears or eyes

01/11/2024 24
 D. Cravat Bandage for Cheek or Ear

1. Use a wide cravat, start with the middle of the cravat

over the dressing that covers the cheek or ear.
2. Carry one end over the top of the head & the other
under the chin.
3. Cross the ends at the opposite side,
4. brining the short end back around the forehead & the
long end around the back of the head.

01/11/2024 25
 Application of cravat bandage for cheek or ear

01/11/2024 26
 Anchoring a bandage

Place the end of the bandage on a base at the starting

point.
Encircle the part allowing the corner of the bandage end
to protrude.
Turn down the protruding tip of the bandage & encircle
the part again.

01/11/2024 27
 Anchoring a bandage

01/11/2024 28
 Securing of a bandage

 ways to secure a bandage in place

 Using safety pin,
 Applying adhesive tape,
 bandage clip,
 Tucking in the end & tying.

01/11/2024 29
01/11/2024 30
 Methods of bandaging

1. Circular turn
 Simply encircle the part with each layer of bandage super
imposed on the previous one.
 It is simplest of all bandage turns
 Used to covering parts of uniform width such as the toes
& head.

01/11/2024 31
 Circular turning of a bandage

01/11/2024 32
 2. spiral bandage of the limb

 It is a continuous encircling of the area to be covered

with spiral turns spaced & closed.
 The bandage is completed by tying off.
 It is used temporary for splinting & holding a large burn
dressing in place.

01/11/2024 33
01/11/2024 34
 3. Figure of eight bandage for hand and wrist

 Anchor the bandage with one or two turns around the palm of the
hand.
 Carry it diagonally across the front of the wrist & around the wrist.

 Again carry it diagonally across the front of the wrist & back to the
palm.
 It is repeated as many times as necessary to fix the dressing
properly.
 Complete it by tying off.

01/11/2024 35
 Figure of eight bandage for hand & wrist

01/11/2024 36
 4. Finger tip bandage

 This is a series of back & forth runs called recurrent

turn held in place by circle & spiral turns.
 This bandage is held in place with circular turns.
 encircle one or more times from the opposite side of
the wrist.
 Continue to the finger & loop.
 Repeat the figure of eight several times & tie off at the
wrist.
 Secure by tying.

01/11/2024 37
 Finger tip bandage

01/11/2024 38
 5. Figure of eight bandage for the ankle joint

1. Anchor the bandage on the instep

2. take 2 or 3 additional turns around the instep & foot.
3. Carry the bandage diagonally upwards across the front
of the foot
4. then around the ankle & diagonally downwards.
5. Occasionally use an extra turn around the ankle
6. complete by tying off

01/11/2024 39
 Figure of eight bandage for the Ankle Joint

01/11/2024 40
 THANKS!!!!!!!!!

01/11/2024 41