First Aid Dressings and Bandages

Dressings *Covers an open wound. *Touches the wound

Dressings Should be: Sterile Larger than wound Thick, soft and compressible Lint free

Dressings: Purpose Control bleeding Prevent infection Absorb blood and wound drainage Protect wound from further injury

Dressings: DO NOT *Use cotton balls as dressings *Remove a blood soaked dressing until the bleeding stops *Pull off a dressing stuck to a wound Soak a dressing off if stuck to wound DO…..

Dressings: Types Gauze Pads *Used for small wounds *Various sizes *Some have nonstick surface 4 x 4

Dressings: Types Adhesive Strips *Band-aids *Used for small cuts *Combination dressing and bandage

Dressings: Types Trauma Dressing *Also called ABD pads *Large, thick, absorbent *Can use sanitary pads (not sterile)

Dressings: What To Do *Wash hands (if possible) *Place dsg directly over wound *Cover with bandage

Bandages: Purpose *Holds a dsg in place *Apply direct pressure over wound *Prevents or reduces swelling *Provides support or stability Wrap toward the

Bandages: DO NOT *Apply directly over wound (apply dsg 1 st ) *Bandage so tight it restricts blood flow *Bandages so loose, the dsg slips

Bandages: DO NOT *Have loose ends *Cover fingers or toes (unless they are injured) *Use elastic wrap *Apply around neck X

Bandages: Signs that the Bandage is too Tight *Blue color to fingers or toes *Tingling or loss of sensation *Extremity coldness *Inability to move fingers or toes below Check pulse below dressing

Bandages: Types Roller Bandages *Various widths and lengths *Kling *Kerlex

Bandages: Types Triangular Bandages inch square of cotton cut diagonally “ Cravat ”

Bandages: Types Adhesive Tape Varies widths, lengths and material

Bandages: Types Adhesive Strips Used for small cuts Band-aids Combination dressing and bandage

Fractures: DOTS Deformity Open wound Tenderness Swelling Not always obvious. Compare

Fractures: What To Do Check and treat ABCs Tx for shock Gently remove clothing covering injured site LAF

Fractures: What To Do LAF: Look And Feel Look at injured site. Swelling? Brusiing? Damaged skin? Gently press, feel for deformity, tenderness

Fractures: What To Do Check circulation, nerves: Arm: Radial pulse Leg: Post tib pulse Sensation: squeeze fingers, toes Movement: Wiggle fingers, toes

Fractures: What To Do RICE Rest Ice Compress Elevate With Ace bandage. Wrap toward the heart Injuries heal faster with rest. For minutes q hours for first hours After stabilized

Fractures: What To Do Stabilize with splint Stabilize: limit movement Reduces pain Prevents damage to muscles,nerves and blood vessels Reduces bleeding and swelling

Types of Splints Improvised Folded newspaper, piece of wood, another body part Commercially prepared

Splints Stabilize before moving Splint in position found Cover wounds before applying splint

Splints Check pulses, if no pulse: try to straighten extremity to restore blood flow. Stabilize above and below injury

Splints Use cravats if possible Tie firmly but not too tight Check pulse after each cravat is tied Leave fingers or toes exposed

Splints RICE after splint is applied SMA immediately if no pulse in injured extremity