How to bandage a wound correctly?

Proper wound care is crucial for preventing infection and promoting healing. Improper bandaging can lead to wound infection, delayed healing, and even complications. Mastering correct bandaging techniques is crucial for daily wound care.

What preparations need to be made before bandaging?

Before bandaging, you first need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. If conditions permit, use medical disinfectant. Prepare the necessary bandaging materials, including sterile gauze, bandages, medical tape, disinfectants, etc. Check the wound and assess its size, depth, bleeding, and degree of contamination. If the wound is actively bleeding, stop the bleeding first. Rinse the wound with normal saline to remove visible dirt and foreign matter. Use iodine tincture or medical alcohol to disinfect from the center of the wound to the periphery to avoid bringing surrounding bacteria into the wound. When disinfecting, wait for the disinfectant to dry naturally and do not blow or wipe it.

How to choose appropriate bandaging materials?

Selecting a dressing based on the characteristics of the wound is a key step. Ordinary sterile gauze can be used for superficial clean wounds, and highly absorbent dressings such as alginate dressings should be selected for wounds with more exudation. Antibacterial dressings containing silver ions can be considered for infected wounds, and hydrocolloid or foam dressings can be used to maintain a moist environment for chronic wounds. The size of the dressing should completely cover the wound and extend 2-3 cm beyond the edge. The choice of bandage is also very important. Elastic bandages are suitable for joints, cotton bandages are more breathable, and self-adhesive bandages are easy to use and not easy to fall off. Finger-type bandages can be used for special parts such as fingers, and triangular bandages can be used for the head.

What are the correct steps for bandaging?

When placing the dressing, avoid direct contact with the inside of the dressing with your hands. Use sterile tweezers or wear sterile gloves. The dressing should completely cover the wound and should not be moved or adjusted excessively. The bandage should be wrapped from the distal end to the proximal end with even and moderate pressure to secure the dressing without affecting blood circulation. The extremities should be exposed during bandaging to facilitate observation of blood circulation. The joints should be bandaged in a figure-8 pattern to allow for proper movement while keeping the dressing stable. After the bandage is completed, check the tightness to ensure that a finger can be inserted. Record the bandaging time for subsequent changes.

What should I pay attention to after bandaging?

If the dressing becomes soaked or contaminated, it should be changed promptly. Observe the wound. Symptoms such as increased pain, increased exudate from the dressing, an odor, or fever may indicate infection and require medical attention. Change the dressing regularly. Clean wounds can be changed every 1-2 days, while infected wounds may need to be changed daily. Observe the wound healing process when changing the dressing. Seek medical attention if any abnormalities such as redness, swelling, or increased exudate occur.

How to treat special wounds?

Burn wounds should be treated with hydrogel dressings to maintain a moist environment and promote healing. Wounds in patients with diabetes require particularly meticulous care, and regular checks on the dressing are necessary due to potential decreased sensation. Animal bite wounds should not be bandaged immediately but should be thoroughly irrigated and disinfected first, leaving space for drainage.

Wounds that extend beyond the subcutaneous tissue, exhibit heavy, active bleeding that cannot be stopped, contain foreign matter that cannot be removed, or are severely contaminated or show obvious signs of infection require professional medical attention. Wounds sustained by diabetics, immunocompromised individuals, or the elderly should seek medical attention promptly. Patients with an uncertain tetanus vaccination history, particularly wounds caused by iron objects, require medical evaluation.

Proper wound dressing not only protects wounds from external contamination but also creates a favorable environment for healing. Mastering these basic principles and techniques will allow you to effectively manage most common wounds in daily life. For more information on Innomed® Elastic Bandage Self-Adhesive, refer to the Previous Articles. If you have customized needs, you are welcome to contact us; You Wholeheartedly. At longterm medical, we transform this data by Innovating and Developing Products that Make Life easier for those who need loving care.

Editor: kiki Jia