What are the do's and don'ts in bandaging?

Answer 1

There are no hard and fast rules for dresssing and bandaging wounds as long as the following conditions are met: 1. Use sterile material or material that is as clean as possible. 2. Bleeding is controlled. 3. The dressing is opened carefully and handled in an aseptic manner. 4. The dressing adequately covers the wound. 5. Wounds are bandaged snugly, but not too tightly. Too tight a bandage may interfere with the blood supply and damage surrounding tissue. 6. There are no loose ends that could get caught on other objects while the patient is being moved. 7. The bandage is securely tied or fastened in a place so that it will not move. 8. In bandaging the arms or the legs, leave the tips of the fingers or toes uncovered where possible so that any interference with circulation can be detected. 9. Always place the body part to be bandaged in the position in which it is to be left. Because swelling frequently follows an injury, a tight bandage may cause serious interference with circulation. On the other hand, a loosely applied bandage may slip off and expose the wound. 10. If the patient complains that the bandage is too tight, loosen it and make it comfortable but snug. Unless otherwise specified, all knots should be tied over open wounds to help control bleeding.