When treating trauma, it is very important to use bandages correctly, which can effectively control bleeding, fix the injured part, protect the wound, etc.
1. Clean the wound
In our daily life, wounds are often contaminated with various dirt and bacteria. When trauma occurs, the surrounding environment may be complex and full of bacteria. For example, outdoors, the wound may be contaminated by dirt, dust, leaves, etc.; in the kitchen, it may be contaminated by oil, food residues, etc. If these dirt and bacteria are not removed in time, it is easy to cause wound infection, leading to serious problems such as inflammation and suppuration, and prolonging the healing time of the wound.
Before using the bandage, the first thing we have to do is to clean the wound with clean water or soapy water. If you are outdoors and there is no clean soapy water around, it is also okay to rinse the wound with running clean water. For example, when hiking in the wild, if you are accidentally scratched by a branch, we can find a nearby stream and rinse the wound with clear stream water. But pay attention to the intensity of the water flow, which should not be too strong to avoid secondary damage to the wound. If we are indoors, we can turn on the faucet and let warm water flow slowly through the wound, while gently wiping the area around the wound with mild soapy water to remove dirt and bacteria.
2. Choose the right bandage
It is very important to choose the right bandage according to the size and location of the wound. Different types of bandages have different characteristics and uses, and we need to choose according to the specific situation.
Common first aid bandages include cotton bandages, elastic bandages, and self-adhesive bandages. Cotton bandages are a very traditional and commonly used bandage. They are soft, breathable, and less irritating to the skin. They are generally suitable for smaller wounds, such as abrasions on fingers, toes, etc. It can fit the wound well and play a role in protection and fixation. For example, when our fingers are cut by paper, using cotton bandages for bandaging will not make the fingers feel too tight, but also effectively prevent the wound from being contaminated by the outside world.
Elastic bandages have good elasticity and can be flexibly adjusted according to the shape and size of the wound. It is suitable for wounds that require a certain amount of pressure, such as sprains and strains in joints. When our ankle is sprained, using an elastic bandage can give the ankle proper support and pressure, reducing swelling and pain. At the same time, the elasticity of the elastic bandage will not affect the normal movement of the joint, allowing us to still move to a certain extent in the case of injury.
Self-adhesive bandage is a more convenient bandage that does not require additional fixing materials and can stick together by itself. This bandage is suitable for some parts that are difficult to fix, such as the head and neck. When our head is injured, it is very convenient to use a self-adhesive bandage to bandage, and its stickiness can ensure that the bandage is fixed in place on the head and will not slip due to the movement of the head.
When choosing a bandage, we also need to consider the width and length of the bandage. If the wound is large, we need to choose a wider bandage to ensure that it can completely cover the wound; if the wound is located in a certain part of the body and needs to be wrapped multiple times, then we need to choose a bandage that is long enough.
3. Bandage the wound
Before bandaging the wound, we need to cover the wound with sterile gauze. Sterile gauze can further prevent wound infection and provide a relatively clean environment for the wound. We need to make sure that the size of the sterile gauze is appropriate and can completely cover the wound. If the sterile gauze is too small, it will not provide effective protection; if it is too large, it will cause waste and will not be conducive to bandaging.
Then, we hold the bandage head in our left hand and the bandage roll in our right hand. This action seems simple, but it requires certain skills. The left hand should gently hold the bandage head and keep it stable, and the right hand should evenly rotate the bandage roll so that the bandage can be smoothly unfolded. Use the outside of the bandage to close the local area, and usually wrap it from left to right and from bottom to top when bandaging. This bandaging direction makes sense. It conforms to the physiological structure of the human body and the direction of blood circulation, which can better fix the bandage and reduce the pressure on the wound.
During the bandaging process, the bandage should not be too tight to avoid local swelling. If the bandage is too tight, it will hinder blood circulation, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the injured part, causing symptoms such as swelling and pain. At the same time, a too tight bandage may also affect the conduction of nerves, leading to numbness, tingling and other abnormal sensations. For example, when we bandage our arms, if the bandage is too tight, the arms will swell quickly and the fingers will become numb. On the contrary, the bandage should not be too loose to prevent it from slipping off. If the bandage is too loose, it will not be able to fix and protect the wound, and the wound will be easily contaminated and collided by the outside world, affecting the healing of the wound.
4. Fixing the bandage
Fixing the bandage with tape or other materials to keep the bandage in place is an important step in the bandaging process. When we have finished wrapping the bandage, we need to use tape to fix the end of the bandage. The choice of tape is also very important. We should choose tape with moderate viscosity and low skin irritation. If the tape is too sticky, it may damage the skin when removing the bandage; if the viscosity is too weak, the bandage cannot be effectively fixed.
In addition to tape, we can also use other materials to fix the bandage, such as safety pins. But be careful when using safety pins to avoid pins piercing the skin. When fixing the bandage, we must ensure that the bandage is in the correct position and is not twisted or loose. At the same time, we should pay attention to the strength of fixation. It should not be too tight to avoid affecting blood circulation, nor too loose to avoid the bandage falling off.
5. Observe the wound
Regularly checking the wound is an important part of ensuring the smooth healing of the wound. After bandaging the wound, we cannot do it once and for all, but we should observe the condition of the wound regularly. We should check whether the bandage shows signs of slipping. If the bandage slips, we need to re-bandage it in time to ensure that the wound is effectively protected. At the same time, we should also observe whether the wound has symptoms of infection, such as redness, swelling, fever, increased pain, and secretions. If the wound shows signs of infection, we need to take corresponding measures in time, such as changing the bandage and using antibiotics.
It is also very important to change the bandage when necessary. Over time, the bandage may be soaked by the secretions of the wound and become damp, which makes it easy for bacteria to grow and cause infection. Therefore, we should change the bandage in time according to the condition of the wound. Generally speaking, if the wound is small and the secretions are small, the bandage can be changed every 1-2 days; if the wound is large and the secretions are more, the bandage needs to be changed every day.