A dressing is a sterile pad or compress applied to a wound to promote healing and/or

prevent further harm. A dressing is designed to be in direct contact with the wound, as
distinguished from a bandage, which is most often used to hold a dressing in place.

Generally, bandages are classified based on the fold. The most basic unfolded dressing is the
triangular bandage, with the tip with the larger angle known as the apex. Folding the apex
down once makes a broad fold bandage, and folding the upper end of the broad fold down
makes a narrow fold bandage.
Different types of dressing and bandages
1. Triangular bandage- commonly used to support fractures and dislocations. This can
be used to form a slings and cravats.

2. Cravat bandage- is a folded triangular bandage.

Cravat of head or ear

Compression wraps are also useful for some types of injuries. A compression wrap is a
type of bandage that can help suppress swelling. These are commonly used for sprains.

Alternatives
If a bandage or dressing is not immediately available, some alternatives may be used. Some of
these include the following:

● A clean piece of tissue paper and some tape or adhesive can be used for covering wounds.

● A clean strip of cloth can be used as a bandage.

● A sock with the tips cut off can be used as an emergency bandage for the wrist and ankles.

● A flat piece of wood can be used as a splint for broken or dislocated bones.

● Adhesive tapes can be used for setting splints and cloth bandages in an emergency.

● Feminine pads can be used as an emergency wound dressing since they can soak up blood
efficiently.

Bandaging Techniques
There are several bandaging techniques based on where the injury is located. Some of these
include the following:

For the Forehead

Forehead injuries may sometimes require emergency bandaging to properly manage the injury
while waiting for medical help. The steps for forehead bandaging include:

1. The center of the broad fold bandage should be on the injured area on the forehead.

2. Wrap both ends of the bandage at the back of the head, and bring them back to the front.

3. Bring the ends close to the injured area.

4. Knot the ends, but make sure it is neither too tight or too loose, just enough to set the
bandages.
For the Ears, Cheeks, and Jaw

An injury to the ears, cheeks, or a dislocated jaw need to be protected before medical help
arrives. The following steps can be used:

1. Fold the triangular bandage into a large fold. Place the center of bandage on top of the
injury.

2. Bring the two ends of the bandage to the opposite side of the injury by wrapping the
bandage around the head. Make sure that one side passes on top of the head, and the other
under the chin.

3. Bring the two ends together and cross them so that one end goes to the back of the head
and the other to the forehead.

4. Bring both ends to the opposite side of the head by allowing one end to pass behind the
head and the other in front of the forehead. Do not cover the eyes.

5. Knot the ends above the ear.

Burned Hands or Feet

Hand burns should be protected from the outside environment to prevent infections. The
following steps should be taken in bandaging a burned hand:

1. Place a triangular bandage on a flat surface. The affected side should be placed in the center
of the open bandage.

2. Bring the upper tip of the bandage to the forearm and cover the hand. Leave one inch of
space above the tips of the fingers when folding.

3. Bring and fold the bandage on the left-hand and right-hand side to the sides of the hand.

4. Get the fold on each side and bring them up without moving the hand. Cross them to the
opposite side.
5. Wrap each fold around the wrist downwards, then wrap them back upwards above the wrist.

6. Knot the ends and make sure that the knot is not too tight. Tuck away the ends of the knot.

7. Loosen the bandage around the palm area.

Sprained Ankle

A compression wrap should be used for wrapping a sprained ankle to help manage the swelling.
The following steps can be done:

1. Position the foot at a 90-degree angle, and the wrapping should begin at the place where the
bones of the toes meet the bones of the foot itself.

2. Start wrapping from the side of the foot, and wrap one around the ball of the injured foot.
3. Wrap again, and wrap your way towards the heel. Before the curvature, wrap it around the
ankle in a figure-8 manner.

4. Continue wrapping in front of the heel and fasten the ends.

Injuries to the Arm

For an injury to the upper arm, the following steps can be done to create a sling:

1. Place the hand of the injured arm near the opposite shoulder, crossing the torso.

2. Place the apex of the triangular bandage at the elbow of the injured arm. The bandage itself
should be under the arm and touching the torso.
3. Bring the bottom part of the bandage upwards.

4. Knot the ends above the collarbone. Adjust the sling.

Principles of Wound Dressing
When applying dressings for covering wounds, the first aider must always make sure that the
dressing is sterile and free from dirt and other agents that can infect the wound. There are also
some other principles that must always be kept in mind.

● Careful Handling. Careful handling of the body part where the wound is found is
necessary, as rough handling can aggravate the bleeding in the wound. Proper pressure can
also be applied to the injury to stem the bleeding depending on how deep the wound is. The
primary concerns of a first aider are to stop bleeding and prevent infections of the wound.

● Bandage or Dressing Size. The dressing should also be of an appropriate size, which
is slightly larger than the size of the wound itself. This ensures than the adhesive used to stick
the bandage on does not get to the injury. Adhesives on wounds can be painful when removed,
and may even make the bleeding worse or get in the way of healing.

● Bandage or Dressing Fit. The fit of the bandage or dressing should not be too tight as
to cut off circulation to the affected body part, nor too loose to not allow proper covering or
proper pressure to be applied onto the affected area.
Transport After First Aid
There are cases when a victim must be transported away from danger or transported for more
accessible medical attention.

Devices for transporting victims, like stretchers, are not always available. This means that
rescuers must be well-versed in how to transport victims.

Significance

Proper technique is needed to properly transport the victims without aggravating their injuries.
Many drag and carry techniques involve assessing the status of the victim and the environment
to properly transport the victim safely.

Drag techniques involve pulling the victim through the ground, while carry techniques
involve lifting the victim for transport. Each of these techniques has their situations that they
are ideal for, advantages, and disadvantages.

Things to Watch Out For

Some of the things that a rescuer has to watch out for before transporting the victim are the
following:

● The terrain and environment should be surveyed, as many drag techniques cannot be used
on a bumpy ground.

● The distance that the victim should be transported should also be taken into account since
some transport techniques are more tiring compared to the others.
● The consciousness of the victim is also important as some techniques can only be used on
conscious victims.

● The injuries of the victim should be taken into account since some techniques are somewhat
bumpier to use compared to others, which can aggravate an injury.

One-Person Transport

Some drag and carry techniques that can be performed by one rescuer include the following:

One Person Carry

This method is performed on a light person by putting one hand under the victim’s knees, and
another supporting the back.

Ankle Drag

This method is also known as ankle pull, and should not be used on a bumpy ground. It can be
performed using the following steps:

1. Grab the victim’s ankle or pants at the ankle area.

2. Pull by using your legs while keeping your back straight.

3. Make sure that the victim’s head is intact. Beware of any bumps on the ground.
Pack Strap Carry

This method is easier for carrying a victim over longer distances.

1. Both arms of the victim should be placed around your shoulders and cross them.

2. Grab the opposite wrists and place them close to your chest.

3. Do a slight squat and push your hips outward and into the victim.

4. Place the weight on your hips and balance the weight on your body while supporting the
victim.

Blanket Pull

As the name implies, a blanket is needed for this transport method.

1. Roll the victim onto a blanket, face up. Make sure the head is around 2 feet away from the
blanket’s edge.

2. Wrap the corners of the blanket around the person.

3. Pull the blanket by using your legs while keeping your back straight.
Two-Person Carry

The following are some of the methods that two rescuers can use:

Two-Handed Seat Carry

This method can carry unconscious or barely-conscious victims over long distances.

1. Both rescuers should face each other while placing a hand on each other’s shoulders. The
right hand of one rescuer should be on the left shoulder of the other rescuer, while the left
hand of the other rescuer should be on the right shoulder of the first rescuer.

2. The unused hand of both rescuers should grasp each others’ wrists.

3. Both rescuers should squat slightly, and allow the victim to sit on the arms grasping the
wrists, and the back should be supported by the arms gripping the shoulders.
Four-Handed Seat Carry

This method should only be used on a conscious victim.

1. Grasp your right wrist with your left hand. The other rescuer does the same.

2. Grasp the other rescuer’s left wrist. The other rescuer does the same.

3. The result should be square-shaped support.

4. The victim sits on this support and rests each arm on the rescuers while being carried.
Chair Carry

Only sturdy chairs with a minimal chance of breaking should be used in this method.

1. Make the victim sit down on the chair.

2. The rescuer behind the victim grasps both sides of the back of the chair, and the rescuer in
front grasps both front feet of the chair.

3. The chair should be tilted so that the back part is lower. Carry the victim to the direction
where he or she is facing.

Three-Man Carry
A method of carrying a victim using three rescuers is the three-man carry.

1. The victim should lie down, face up.

2. One rescuer kneels near the shoulders and head. The other should be near the waist, and the
last should be near the feet. All rescuers should be in one line on one side of the victim.

3. All rescuers lift the victim at the same time and place the victim on their knees. The rescuer
at the head area should take charge in synchronizing the lift.
4. All rescuers rotate the victim at the same time so that the victim is facing the torsos of the
rescuers. Both hands are placed under the victim. The head should be supported by one hand.

5. All rescuers stand at the same time.