1 Apply dressing pad
2Bandage in place
3Secure bandage
1 Apply pressure
2Loosen bandage
3Monitor casualty
FIRST-AID EQUIPMENT
61
APPLYING A WOUND DRESSING
1 Apply dressing pad
• Wash your hands thoroughly and wear disposable gloves, if available.
• Choose a dressing with a pad that will cover an area 1 in( 2.5 cm) beyond the edges of the wound.
• Unroll the bandage until the pad is visible, leaving a short“ free” end on one side of the pad and a roll of bandage on the other.
• Place the dressing pad directly on the wound.
2Bandage in place
• Secure the pad in place by winding the short end of the bandage once around the dressing and limb.
• Keep hold of the short end and wind the bandage roll around the dressing and limb. Continue winding the bandage until the pad is completely covered.
3Secure bandage
• Tie the ends of the bandage together over the pad.
• Check the circulation( see below) and, if necessary, loosen the bandage and reapply.
• If blood seeps through, apply another dressing over the top. If it seeps through the second dressing, remove both and start again.
Make turns with the main bandage
Hold the short end
CHECKING CIRCULATION
1 Apply pressure
• Immediately after bandaging a limb, check the circulation in the fingers or toes beyond the bandage.
• Press on a nail or on the skin until the area turns pale, then release the pressure. The color should return immediately.
2Loosen bandage
• If the skin color does not return immediately, the bandage is too tight and should be loosened.
• Undo a few turns of the bandage. Wait for the color to return to the skin, and reapply the bandage more loosely. Check circulation again.
3Monitor casualty
• Every 10 minutes, check fingers or toes for signs of poor circulation such as pale, cold skin, or numbness. Loosen the bandage and reapply if necessary.