BANDAGING Dr. Sankappa Gulaganji Associate Professor BLDEA’s Shri B M Patil Institute of Nursing Sciences, Vijayapur Definition A strip of material used mainly to support and immobilize a part of the body. Definition of a bandage. And used To support - fractured bone To immobilize – Dislocated shoulder/Jaw To apply pressure – Stop bleeding & Improve venous blood flow. To secure a dressing in place. To retain splints in place. TYPES OF BANDAGING Crepe bandages: Crepe bandages, commonly made of cotton, are a woven, elasticated bandage. Crepe bandages are ideal to support the healing of sprains and strains, as they provide good compression to injured areas, as per the PRICE method, but as they’re elastic they don’t prevent joints or muscles from flexing. Washable & Reusable Conforming bandages: Conforming bandages are very stretchy and, as their name suggests, conform closely to the body’s contours. These bandages are ideal for securing dressings in place, particularly on limbs. These bandages are lightweight, fray-resistant and breathable. These are usually made with synthetic materials. PRICE Method Cohesive bandages (adhesive): Cohesive bandages are designed to stick to themselves, but not to skin or hair. This makes cohesive bandages quick and easy to apply and remove, not requiring any tape or pins to hold them in place. These bandages can be used both for holding wound dressings in place and for supporting and providing compression to injured muscles or joints. Open wove bandages(cotton/Gauze): Unlike other kinds of bandage, these bandages are non-elastic, and can be used to hold dressings in place without constricting or pressuring the wound. This does however make them unsuitable for PRICE therapy. Their loose weave allows good ventilation, helping the skin to breathe and avoiding infection. Plaster of paris: These bandages are used for creating casts to provide rigid immobilisation of fractured or broken limbs. Impregnated with Plaster of Paris (calcined gypsum), once immersed in water, these bandages can be moulded to the limb. The bandages then set fast into a strong, solid cast. These bandages should only be applied by medical professionals. Triangular bandage: Method of Applying Bandages Circular Spiral Reverse Spiral Figure of Eight Principles for Applying Bandages Wash hands Give victim comfortable position on bed or chair and support the body part to be bandaged. Always stand in front of the part to be bandaged except when applying bandages to head, eye and ear. Be sure the bandages is rolled firm. Make sure the body part to be bandaged is clean and dry. Assess skin before applying bandage for any break down. Observe circulation by noting pulse, surface temperature, skin color and sensation of the body part to be wrapped. Always start bandaging from inner to outer aspect and far to near end. When bandaging a joint ensures flexibility of the joint. Always start and end two circular turns. Cover the area

1. BANDAGING
Dr. Sankappa Gulaganji
Associate Professor
BLDEA’s Shri B M Patil Institute of
Nursing Sciences, Vijayapur

2. Definition
• A strip of material used mainly to support and
immobilize a part of the body. Definition of a
bandage. And used
• To support - fractured bone
• To immobilize – Dislocated shoulder/Jaw
• To apply pressure – Stop bleeding & Improve
venous blood flow.
• To secure a dressing in place.
• To retain splints in place.

3. TYPES OF BANDAGING
• Crepe bandages: Crepe bandages, commonly made of cotton,
are a woven, elasticated bandage. Crepe bandages are ideal
to support the healing of sprains and strains, as they provide
good compression to injured areas, as per the PRICE method,
but as they’re elastic they don’t prevent joints or muscles
from flexing. Washable & Reusable
• Conforming bandages: Conforming bandages are very
stretchy and, as their name suggests, conform closely to the
body’s contours. These bandages are ideal for securing
dressings in place, particularly on limbs. These bandages are
lightweight, fray-resistant and breathable. These are usually
made with synthetic materials.

4. PRICE Method

5. • Cohesive bandages (adhesive): Cohesive bandages are
designed to stick to themselves, but not to skin or hair.
This makes cohesive bandages quick and easy to apply
and remove, not requiring any tape or pins to hold
them in place. These bandages can be used both for
holding wound dressings in place and for supporting
and providing compression to injured muscles or joints.
• Open wove bandages(cotton/Gauze): Unlike other
kinds of bandage, these bandages are non-elastic, and
can be used to hold dressings in place without
constricting or pressuring the wound. This does
however make them unsuitable for PRICE therapy.
Their loose weave allows good ventilation, helping the
skin to breathe and avoiding infection.

6. • Plaster of paris: These bandages are used for
creating casts to provide rigid immobilisation of
fractured or broken limbs. Impregnated with
Plaster of Paris (calcined gypsum), once
immersed in water, these bandages can be
moulded to the limb. The bandages then set fast
into a strong, solid cast. These bandages should
only be applied by medical professionals.
• Triangular bandage:

8. Method of Applying Bandages
• Circular
• Spiral
• Reverse Spiral
• Figure of Eight

10. Principles for Applying Bandages
• Wash hands
• Give victim comfortable position on bed or chair
and support the body part to be bandaged.
• Always stand in front of the part to be bandaged
except when applying bandages to head, eye and
ear.
• Be sure the bandages is rolled firm.
• Make sure the body part to be bandaged is clean
and dry.

11. • Assess skin before applying bandage for any
break down.
• Observe circulation by noting pulse, surface
temperature, skin color and sensation of the
body part to be wrapped.
• Always start bandaging from inner to outer
aspect and far to near end.
• When bandaging a joint ensures flexibility of the
joint.
• Always start and end two circular turns.

12. • Cover the area 2 inches above and 2 inches
below the affected area (wound).
• Where possible , leave finger tips or toe tips
exposed for observation
• End the bandages on the outer side of the
body. Do not end a bandage on wound or at
the back of the body.

13. Circular
• Circular turns are used chiefly to anchor
bandages and to terminate bandages. Apply
the end of the bandage to the part of the
body to be bandaged. Encircle the body part a
few times or as needed, each turn directly
covering the pervious turn. Secure the end of
the bandage with tape, metal clips or a safety
pin over an uninjured area.

14. Spiral
• Spiral turns are used to bandage cylindrical
parts of the body that are fairly uniform in
circumference, such as upper arm and upper
leg. Make two circular turns to begin the
bandage. Continue spiral turns at about a 30-
degree angle, each turn overlapping the
preceding one by two-thirds the width of the
bandage. Terminate the bandage with two
circular turns, and secure the end as described
for circular turns.

15. Spiral reverse
• Spiral reverse turns are used to bandage
cylindrical parts of the body that are not uniform
in circumference, such as the lower leg or lower
fore arm. Begin the bandage with two circular
turns, and bring the bandage upward at about a
30-degree angle. Place the thumb of the free hand
on the upper edge of the bandage. The thumb will
hold the bandage while it is folded on it self.
Unroll the bandage about 4-6’’ then turn the hand
so that the bandage is folded down.

16. • Continue the bandage around the limb,
overlapping each previous turn by two-thirds
the width of the bandage. Make each bandage
turn at the same position on the limb so that
the turns of the bandage will be aligned.
Terminate the bandage with two circular turns,
and secure the end as described for circular
turns.

17. The figure-of-eight
• The figure-of-eight method permits flexibility of
the elbow, knee & ankle without disturbing the
dressing. Begin the bandage with two circular
turns. Carry the bandage above the joint, around
it, and then below it, making a figure eight-
continue above and below the joint, overlapping
the previous turn by two-thirds the width of the
bandage. Terminate the bandage above the joint
with two circular turns, and secure the end
appropriately. Application of Bandages on Elbow,
Ankle & Knee Figure of Eight Turn