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
•Bandaging too loosely
•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:

• Place the end of the roller bandage on the dressing,

then wrap it around the body part in a circular fashion

• 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….