Providing first aid to victims with injuries, fractures, dislocations, ligament injuries, bruises, burns and other things becomes almost impossible without the timely and correct application of a bandage. Indeed, due to the dressing, additional infection of the wound is prevented, and bleeding stops, fractures are fixed, and even a therapeutic effect on the wound begins.
Medical dressings and their types
The section of medicine that studies the rules for applying bandages and tourniquets, their types and methods of application, is called desmurgy (from the Greek desmos - leash, bandage and ergon - execution, business).
According to the definition, a bandage is a way of treating injuries and wounds, which consists in using:
- dressing material that is applied directly to the wound;
- outer part of the bandage, whichfixes the dressing.
The role of dressing material, for various reasons, can be:
- special dressing bags;
- napkins;
- cotton swabs;
- gauze balls.
| View | Description | Varieties |
| Protective or soft |
Consist of a material that is applied to the wound and a fixing bandage Used in most cases: for burns, bruises, open wounds |
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| Immobilization or solid |
Composed of a dressing and splint Used to transport the victim, in the treatment of injuries to bones and their elastic joints |
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Primary trauma care
The process of bandaging is called dressing. Its purpose is to close the wound:
- to prevent further infection;
- to stop the bleeding;
- to have a healing effect.
General rules for dressing woundsand damage:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, if this is not possible, then you should at least treat them with special antiseptic agents.
- If the site of damage is an open wound, then gently treat the skin around it with an alcohol solution, hydrogen peroxide or iodine.
- Place the victim (patient) in a comfortable position for him (sitting, lying), while providing free access to the damaged area.
- Stand in front of the patient's face to observe his reaction.
- Start bandaging with an “open” bandage from left to right, from the periphery of the limbs towards the body, that is, from the bottom up, using two hands.
- The arm must be bandaged in a bent at the elbow state, and the leg in a straightened state.
- The first two or three turns (tour) should be fixing, for this the bandage is tightly wrapped around the narrowest undamaged place.
- Further bandage should be with uniform tension, without folds.
- Each turn of the bundle covers the previous one by about a third of the width.
- When the injured area is large, one bandage may not be enough, then at the end of the first put the beginning of the second, strengthening this moment with a circular coil.
- Finish the dressing by making two or three fixing turns of the bandage.
- As an additional fixation, you can cut the end of the bandage into two parts, cross them together, circle around the bandage and tie with a strong knot.
Main types of bandages
Before learning the rules for applying bandages,you should familiarize yourself with the types of harnesses and options for their use.
| Types of bandages | Use cases |
| Thin bandages 3cm, 5cm, 7cm wide and 5m long | They bandage injured fingers |
| Medium bandages 10 to 12 cm wide, 5 m long | Suitable for bandaging injuries of the head, forearm, upper and lower extremities (hands, feet) |
| Large bandages that are over 14cm wide and 7m long | Used to bandage the chest, hips |
Classification of bandages:
1. By type:
- aseptic dry;
- antiseptic dry;
- hypertonic wet drying;
- pressive;
- occlusal.
2. Overlay method:
- circular or spiral;
- octagonal or cruciform;
- serpentine or creeping;
- spike;
- turtle headband: divergent and convergent.
3. By localization:
- on the head;
- on the upper limb;
- on the lower limb;
- on the stomach and pelvis;
- on the chest;
- on the neck.
Rules for applying soft bandages
Band dressings are relevant in most cases of injury. They prevent secondary infection of the wound and minimize adverseenvironmental impact.
The rules for applying a soft bandage bandage are as follows:
1. The patient is placed in a comfortable position:
- for injuries to the head, neck, chest, upper limbs - sitting;
- for injuries of the abdomen, pelvic region, upper thighs - recumbent.
2. Choose a bandage according to the type of injury.
3. The bandaging process is carried out using the basic rules for bandaging.
If you made a dressing, following the rules for applying sterile dressings, then the compress will meet the following criteria:
- completely cover the damaged area;
- do not interfere with normal blood and lymph circulation;
- be comfortable for the patient.
| Type | Bandage rule |
| Circular bandage |
Applied to the wrist area, lower leg, forehead and so on. The bandage is applied spirally, both with and without kinks. Kinked dressing is best done on parts of the body that have a canonical shape |
| Creeping Bandage | Applied to pre-fix the dressing on the injured area |
| Cruciform bandage |
Superimposed in difficult configuration places In the course of dressing, the bandage should describe the eight. For example,A cruciform chest bandage is performed as follows: stroke 1 - make several circular turns through the chest; move 2 - a bandage across the chest is carried out obliquely from the right axillary region to the left forearm; move 3 - make a turn across the back to the right forearm across, from where the bandage is again carried out along the chest towards the left armpit, while crossing the previous layer; stroke 4 and 5 - the bandage is again carried out through the back towards the right armpit, making an eight-shaped step; fixing move - the bandage is wrapped around the chest and fixed |
| Spike bandage |
It is a kind of figure-of-eight. Its imposition, for example, on the shoulder joint is performed according to the following scheme: stroke 1 - the bandage is passed through the chest from the side of a he althy armpit to the opposite shoulder; stroke 2 - with a bandage go around the shoulder in front, on the outside, behind, through the armpit and raise it obliquely to the shoulder, so as to cross the previous layer; stroke 3 - the bandage is passed through the back back to a he althy armpit; moves 4 and 5 - repetition of moves from the first to the third, observing that each new layer of bandage is applied slightly higher than the previous one, forming a “spikelet” pattern at the intersection |
| Turtle Headband |
Used to bandage the joint area Divergent Turtle Headband:
Descending Turtle Headband:
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Head bandaging
There are several types of headbands:
1. "bonnet";
2. simple;
3. "bridle";
4. "Hippocratic hat";
5. one eye;
6. both eyes;
7. Neapolitan (in the ear).
| Name | When overlapping |
| "Cap" | For frontal and occipital injuries |
| Simple | For mild injuries of the occipital, parietal, frontal part of the head |
| "Bridle" | In case of injuries of the frontal part of the skull, face and lower jaw |
| Hippocratic Cap | There is damage to the parietal part |
| One eye | In case of injury to one eye |
| Both eyes | When both eyes are injured |
| Neapolitan | For an ear injury |
The basis of the rule of bandaging on the head is that, regardless of the type, bandaging is carried out with bandages of medium width - 10 cm.
Since it is very important to provide medical assistance in time for any injury, it is recommended to apply the simplest version of the bandage - a “cap” for general head injuries.
Rules for applying a cap bandage:
1. A piece about a meter long is cut from the bandage, which will be used as a tie.
2. Its middle part is applied to the crown.
3. The ends of the tie are held with both hands, this can be done either by an assistant or by the patient himself, if he is in a conscious state.
4. Apply a fixing layer of bandage around the head, reaching the tie.
5. They begin to wrap the bandage around the tie and further, over the head.
6. Having reached the opposite end of the tie, the bandage is again wrapped and drawn around the skull a little above the first layer.
7. Repeated actions completely cover the scalp with a bandage.
8. Making the last round, the end of the bandage is tied to one of the straps.
9. Straps tie under the chin.
| Type | Overlay ruleheadbands |
| Simple | Place the bandage twice around the head. The next step in front is a bend and the bandage begins to be applied obliquely (from the forehead to the back of the head), slightly higher from the circular layer. At the back of the head, another inflection is made and the bandage is led from the other side of the head. The moves are fixed, after which the procedure is repeated, changing the direction of the bandage. The technique is repeated until the top of the head is completely covered, while not forgetting to fix every two oblique strokes of the bandage |
| "Bridle" | Make two turns around the head. Next, the bandage is lowered under the lower jaw, passing it under the right ear. Raise it back to the crown through the left ear, respectively. Three such vertical turns are made, after which a bandage from under the right ear is carried out on the front of the neck, obliquely through the back of the head and around the head, thus fixing the previous layers. The next step is again lowered on the right side under the lower jaw, trying to completely cover it horizontally. Then the bandage is carried out to the back of the head, repeating this step. Once again, repeat the move through the neck, and then finally securing the bandage around the head |
| One eye | The dressing begins with two reinforcing layers of bandage, which is carried out in case of injury to the right eye from left to right, left eye - from right to left. After that, the bandage is lowered from the side of the injury along the back of the head, wound under the ear, covers the eye obliquely through the cheek and is fixed in a circular motion. The step is repeated several times, covering each new layer of bandage with the previous one by abouthalf |
Bleedings for bleeding
Bleeding is the loss of blood when blood vessels are broken.
| Type of bleeding | Description | Bandage rule |
| Arterial | Blood is bright red and pulsating in a strong jet | Tightly squeeze the place above the wound with a hand, tourniquet or tissue twist. Type of applied bandage - pressure |
| Venous | Blood turns dark cherry color and flows evenly |
Raise the damaged part of the body higher, put sterile gauze on the wound and tightly bandage it, that is, make a pressure bandage The tourniquet is applied from below the wound! |
| Capillary | Blood flows evenly from the entire wound | Apply a sterile bandage, after which the bleeding should stop quickly |
| Mixed | Combines the features of previous species | Apply pressure bandage |
| Parenchymal (internal) | Capillary bleeding from internal organs | Make a dressing using a plastic bag with ice |
General rules for applying bandages for bleeding from a limb:
- Place a bandage under the limb, slightly above the wound.
- Attach an ice pack (ideally).
- The tourniquet is strongly stretched.
- Tie up ends.
The main rule for applying a bandage is to place the tourniquet over clothing or a specially lined fabric (gauze, towel, scarf, and so on).
With the right actions, the bleeding should stop, and the place under the tourniquet should turn pale. Be sure to put a note under the bandage with the date and time (hours and minutes) of the dressing. After first aid, no more than 1.5-2 hours should pass before the victim is taken to the hospital, otherwise the injured limb cannot be saved.
Rules for applying a pressure bandage
Compression bandages should be applied to reduce all types of external bleeding at bruises, as well as to reduce the size of the edema.
Rules for applying a pressure bandage:
- The skin adjacent to the wound (about two to four cm) is treated with an antiseptic.
- If there are foreign objects in the wound, they should be carefully removed immediately.
- As a dressing material, a ready-made dressing bag or a sterile cotton-gauze roller is used, if this is not available, then a bandage, a clean handkerchief, napkins will do.
- The dressing is fixed on the wound with a bandage, scarf, scarf.
- Try to make the bandage tight, but not pulling the damaged area.
A well-placed pressure bandage should stop the bleeding. But if she still managed to soak in blood, then it is not necessary to remove it before arriving at the hospital. It should simply be bandaged tightly from above, after placing another gauze bag under the new bandage.
Features of the occlusive dressing
An occlusive dressing is applied to provide a hermetic seal to the damaged area to prevent contact with water and air. Used for penetrating wounds.
Rules for applying an occlusive dressing:
- Place the casu alty in a sitting position.
- Treat the skin adjacent to the wound with an antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, alcohol).
- An antiseptic wipe is applied to the wound and the adjacent area of the body with a radius of five to ten cm.
- The next layer is applied with a waterproof and airtight material (necessarily sterile side), for example, a plastic bag, cling film, rubberized cloth, oilcloth.
- The third layer consists of a cotton-gauze pad that plays the role of constipation.
- All layers are tightly fixed with a wide bandage.
When applying a bandage, remember that each new layer of dressing should be 5-10 cm larger than the previous one.
Of course, if possible, it is best to use the PPI - an individual dressing bag, which is a bandage with two attached cotton-gauzepads. One of them is fixed, and the other moves freely along it.
Aseptic dressing application
Aseptic dressing is used in cases where there is an open wound and it is required to prevent contamination and foreign particles from entering it. This requires not only correctly applying the dressing material, which must be sterile, but also securely fixing it.
Rules for applying an aseptic bandage:
- Treat wounds with special antiseptic agents, but in no case use water for this purpose.
- Apply directly to the injury gauze, 5 cm larger than the wound, previously folded in several layers.
- Apply a layer of hygroscopic cotton wool (easily exfoliating) on top, which is two to three centimeters larger than gauze.
- Fix the dressing tightly with a bandage or medical adhesive tape.
Ideally, it is better to use special dry aseptic dressings. They consist of a layer of hygroscopic material that absorbs blood very well and dries the wound.
To better protect the wound from dirt and infection, additionally glue the cotton-gauze bandage on all sides to the skin with adhesive tape. And then fix everything with a bandage.
When the bandage is completely saturated with blood, it must be carefully replaced with a new one: completely or only the top layer. If this is not possible, for example, becausethe absence of another set of sterile dressings, then you can bandage the wound, after lubricating the soaked bandage with iodine tincture.
Laying splints
When providing first aid for fractures, the main thing is to ensure the immobility of the injury site, as a result, pain decreases and displacement of bone fragments is prevented in the future.
Main signs of a fracture:
- Severe pain at the site of injury that does not stop for several hours.
- Pain shock.
- With a closed fracture - swelling, edema, tissue deformation at the site of injury.
- In case of an open fracture, a wound from which bone fragments protrude.
- Limited or no traffic at all.
Basic rules for applying bandages for fractures of limbs:
- The dressing should be of the immobilization type.
- If there are no special tires, you can use improvised things: a stick, a cane, small boards, a ruler, and so on.
- Make the victim immobile.
- Use two splints wrapped in soft cloth or cotton to fix the fracture.
- Place splints on the sides of the fracture, they should grab the joints below and above the damage.
- If the fracture is accompanied by an open wound and profuse bleeding, then:
- a tourniquet is applied above the fracture and wound;
- a bandage is applied to the wound;
- on the sides of the injured limb superimposedtwo tires.
If you apply any type of bandage incorrectly, then instead of first aid, you can cause irreparable harm to the he alth of the victim, which can lead to death.
