BANDAGES
BANDAGES
A bandage is a piece of material used either to support a medical device such as a dressing or splint, or on its own to provide support to the body. Bandages are available in a wide range of types, from generic cloth strips, to specialised shaped bandages designed for a specific limb or part of the body, although bandages can often be improvised as the situation demands, using clothing, blankets or other material.
In common speech, the word “bandage” is often used to mean a dressing, which is used directly on a wound, whereas a bandage is technically only used to support a dressing, and not directly on a wound.
Roller bandages – are usually made of gauze like material and are packages as a roll. They are used to hold dressings in place to secure splints.
• Roller bandages can be put on in a simple spiral. Start at the narrow part of the limb, anchor the bandage as directed
• Place the end of the bandage on a diagonal at the starting point
• Wrap the bandage around the injured part so the corner of the bandage end is left out
• Fold this corner of the bandage over and wrap the bandage around again to cover the corner. Keep wrapping the bandage, overlapping each turn by one quarter to one third of the bandage’s width. Make full-width overlaps wit the final two or three turns and secure with a safety pin, adhesive tape or by cutting and tying the bandage as shown. Check circulation below the bandage.
• Roller bandages can be put on in a simple spiral. Start at the narrow part of the limb, anchor the bandage as directed
• Place the end of the bandage on a diagonal at the starting point
• Wrap the bandage around the injured part so the corner of the bandage end is left out
• Fold this corner of the bandage over and wrap the bandage around again to cover the corner. Keep wrapping the bandage, overlapping each turn by one quarter to one third of the bandage’s width. Make full-width overlaps wit the final two or three turns and secure with a safety pin, adhesive tape or by cutting and tying the bandage as shown. Check circulation below the bandage.
Head bandage• Stand behind the casualty. Use a triangular bandage as a whole cloth with a narrow hem folded along the base. Place the centre of the base in the middle of the forehead, close to the eyebrows.
• Bring the point over the top of the head to cover the dressing, and down the back of the head, cross over the point, and around the head to the front. Tie the ends together, using a reef knot, low on the forehead.
• Steady the head with one hand, and gently pull the point down to put the desired amount of pressure on the dressing. Fold the point up toward the top of the head and secure it carefully with a safety pin or tuck it under the back crisscross.
• Bring the point over the top of the head to cover the dressing, and down the back of the head, cross over the point, and around the head to the front. Tie the ends together, using a reef knot, low on the forehead.
• Steady the head with one hand, and gently pull the point down to put the desired amount of pressure on the dressing. Fold the point up toward the top of the head and secure it carefully with a safety pin or tuck it under the back crisscross.
Knee or elbow bandage• Use a triangular bandage as a whole cloth with a narrow hem folded along the base. Place the centre of the base on the leg below the kneecap with the point toward the top of the leg (or to bandage an elbow, on the forearm with the point toward the shoulder).
• Bring the ends around the joint, crossing over the point in front of the elbow or at the back of the knee.
• Bring the ends up and tie off over the point. Pull the point up to put the right amount of pressure on the dressing and then fold it down and secure it with a safety pin or tuck it under the knot.
• Bring the ends around the joint, crossing over the point in front of the elbow or at the back of the knee.
• Bring the ends up and tie off over the point. Pull the point up to put the right amount of pressure on the dressing and then fold it down and secure it with a safety pin or tuck it under the knot.
Foot or hand bandage• Use a triangular bandage as a whole cloth. Place it on a flat surface with the point away from the casualty
• Place the foot or hand on the triangular bandage with the toes or fingers toward the point, leaving enough bandage at the ankle or wrist to fully cover the part. Bring the point up and over the foot or hand to rest on the lower leg or wrist.
• Bring the ends alongside the foot of hand and crisscross the folded ends up and around the ankle or wrist. Cross over the point and wrap any extra bandage before trying it off.
• Tie off over the point. If the point extends beyond the knot, pull it up to apply the desired pressure. Fold it downward and tuck under the knot.
• Place the foot or hand on the triangular bandage with the toes or fingers toward the point, leaving enough bandage at the ankle or wrist to fully cover the part. Bring the point up and over the foot or hand to rest on the lower leg or wrist.
• Bring the ends alongside the foot of hand and crisscross the folded ends up and around the ankle or wrist. Cross over the point and wrap any extra bandage before trying it off.
• Tie off over the point. If the point extends beyond the knot, pull it up to apply the desired pressure. Fold it downward and tuck under the knot.
Roller & Triangular Bandage is applied:-
(a) To retain dressing and splints in position and to immobilize fractured limbs. Knots should never be tied over a fracture.
(b) To afford support to an injured part (e.g. sprained ankle) or in the form of a sling.
(c) To control bleeding.
(d) To reduce or prevent swelling.
(e) To assist in the lifting and carrying of casualties
Triangular bandages are made by cutting a piece of linen or calico, not less than thirty eight inches square, diagonally into two pieces, A triangular bandage has three borders. The longest is called the “base” and the other two the “side”. There are three corners; the upper one (opposite the base) is called “point” and the other the “ends” . The bandage may be applied:-
(a) As a whole cloth spread out to its full extend, e.g., chest bandage.
(b) As a broad bandage made by bringing the point down to the center of the base and then folding he bandage again in the same direction .
(c) As narrow bandage made by folding the broad bandage once again in the same direction .
It is sometimes advisable to halve the size of the triangular bandage by bringing the two ends together before folding it into the broad or narrow bandage.
| To secure the ends of a bandage a reef knot must be used. |
For the Shoulder:
Stand facing the casualty’s injured side and place the center of an open bandage on his shoulder, with the point running up the side of the neck. Fold the hem inwards along the base, carry the ends round the middle of the arm, cross and tie them on the outer side so as to secure the lower border of the bandage. Apply an arm sling. Turn down the point of the first bandage over the knot of the sling, draw it tight and pin it .
Stand facing the casualty’s injured side and place the center of an open bandage on his shoulder, with the point running up the side of the neck. Fold the hem inwards along the base, carry the ends round the middle of the arm, cross and tie them on the outer side so as to secure the lower border of the bandage. Apply an arm sling. Turn down the point of the first bandage over the knot of the sling, draw it tight and pin it .
For the Elbow:
Bend the casualty’s elbow to a right angle. Fold to narrow bandage, hen inwards along the base of an open bandage. Lay the point on the back of the upper arm and the middle of the base on the back of the forearm; Cross the ends in front of the elbow, then round the upper arm and tie above the elbow . Bring the point down over the knot and elbow pin it. If it is not advisable to bend the elbow, a narrow or broad bandage should be used according to the needs of the case.
Bend the casualty’s elbow to a right angle. Fold to narrow bandage, hen inwards along the base of an open bandage. Lay the point on the back of the upper arm and the middle of the base on the back of the forearm; Cross the ends in front of the elbow, then round the upper arm and tie above the elbow . Bring the point down over the knot and elbow pin it. If it is not advisable to bend the elbow, a narrow or broad bandage should be used according to the needs of the case.
For the Hand:
place an open bandage under the palm the injury being uppermost with the point away from the casualty and the base of the bandage at the wrist. Bring the point over the hand to the wrist and after folding the hem inwards along the base of the bandage, pass the ends round the wrist, cross them and finally tie over the point . Bring the point over the knot and pin it to the bandage over the hand. After the application of a dressing and bandage for wounds of upper limb, a sling should support the limb.
place an open bandage under the palm the injury being uppermost with the point away from the casualty and the base of the bandage at the wrist. Bring the point over the hand to the wrist and after folding the hem inwards along the base of the bandage, pass the ends round the wrist, cross them and finally tie over the point . Bring the point over the knot and pin it to the bandage over the hand. After the application of a dressing and bandage for wounds of upper limb, a sling should support the limb.
| For the Knee: |
Bend the casualty’s knee to a right angle. Fold a narrow bandage hem inwards along the base of an open bandage. Lay the point on his thigh and the middle of the base below his knee; cross the ends behind his knee, then round his thigh and tie above his knee on the front of this thigh. Bring the point down over the knot and knee and pin it. If it is not advisable to bend the knee a narrow or broad bandage should be used according to the needs of the case .
For the Foot:
Place the casualty’s foot on the center of an open bandage, with his toes towards the point. Draw up the point over his instep, bring the ends forward so that his heel is covered and cross them; pass the ends round the ankle, cross at back and then tie them in form. Draw the point forward and pin it to the bandage over the instep.
Place the casualty’s foot on the center of an open bandage, with his toes towards the point. Draw up the point over his instep, bring the ends forward so that his heel is covered and cross them; pass the ends round the ankle, cross at back and then tie them in form. Draw the point forward and pin it to the bandage over the instep.
Comments
Post a Comment