Bandaging

Attention

  • Check circulation and sensation — after bandaging check hands/fingers, feet/toes for colour, warmth, sensation, movement, peripheral pulses 
    • If any not normal — take off bandage
  • Ask person if bandage is too tight or too loose
  • Remember, the bigger the limb, the wider the bandage needed
  • Start bandaging from inside of limb, wind bandage on so you cover a bit more than half the bandage you have just laid down

What you need

  • Bandages for size of limb
  • Tape to secure bandage

Bandaging a head

Figure 10.3  

Figure 10.4  

Bandaging an arm

  • Apply bandage directly over wounded area with enough pressure to stop bleeding — Figure 10.5
  • Check circulation and sensation

 

Figure 10.5  

Bandaging a hand

  • Wrap end of bandage around wrist twice
  • Cross bandage over back of hand to between thumb and index finger — Figure 10.6
  • Go around knuckles once — Figure 10.7
  • Go over hand again, crossing from little finger to wrist — Figure 10.7
  • Repeat until hand covered — Figure 10.8
  • Can use sling to rest hand after bandaging

Figure 10.6  

Figure 10.7  

Figure 10.8  
  • Triangular bandage can be used — good to control bleeding palm
    • Make hand into fist while holding combine or non-adherent dressing
    • Cover whole hand with triangular bandage, tie at wrist
  • Check circulation and sensation

Bandaging a finger/toe

  • Use stretchy tubular bandage
  • Cut length 4 times longer than finger
  • Flatten tube, cut along length with scissors to about halfway down
  • Put uncut end over finger, twist strip at fingertip — Figure 10.9
  • Bring cut ends back over finger and tie around palm and wrist — Figure 10.10
  • Make sure ends around wrist are wide. More comfortable, less risk of cutting off circulation
  • Check circulation and sensation

Figure 10.9  

Figure 10.10  

Bandaging elbow or knee joint

  • Have person bend elbow/knee slightly
    • Put pillow under thigh to help lift knee
  • Wrap bandage around arm/leg below elbow/knee twice — Figure 10.11
  • Go over inside of elbow/knee and around arm/leg above joint — Figure 10.12
  • Go over inside of elbow/knee and around arm/leg below joint again — Figure 10.13
  • Check circulation and sensation

Figure 10.11  

Figure 10.12  

Figure 10.13  

Bandaging a leg

  • Apply bandage directly over wounded area with enough pressure to stop bleeding — Figure 10.14
  • Check circulation and sensation

Figure 10.14  

Bandaging a foot

  • Wrap end of bandage around ankle twice
  • Cross bandage over top of foot to little toe, then wrap around foot — Figure 10.15
  • Come from under foot near big toe and cross over top of foot to ankle — Figure 10.16. Repeat — Figure 10.17
  • Check circulation and sensation

Figure 10.15  

Figure 10.16  

Figure 10.17  

Bandaging wounds with protruding objects
  • Do not take object (eg knife, spear, glass) out of wound
  • Do not poke around in (probe) wound
  • Put rolled bandage on each side of object to support it firmly — Figure 10.18
  • Use figure of 8 technique and 2 more bandages to bandage around the 2 support rolls until object held firmly — Figure 10.19, Figure 10.20
  • Check circulation and sensation

Figure 10.18  

Figure 10.19  

Figure 10.20