How and When to Use a Pressure Bandage

Pressure bandage, also called a pressure dressing, is a special type of bandage that helps stop bleeding by putting pressure on a wound. It doesn’t usually have any sticky parts and goes on top of a wound that already has a soft, absorbent layer to soak up blood. Sometimes that layer is taped down, and sometimes it’s not.

The main job of a pressure bandage is to stop bleeding and help the blood clot without stopping normal blood flow. It also helps in other ways:

• It keeps the swelling down.
• It keeps dirt and germs out of the wound.
• It protects the injury from getting hurt again.
• It stops heat and body fluids from escaping too much.

Knowing when and how to use a pressure bandage is important to take good care of a wound. It’s also helpful to be careful and follow the right steps so it works the way it should!

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When to apply a pressure bandage?

Doctors often use pressure bandages following surgical procedures. They’re also used by emergency medical responders.

Initial wound treatment

If you or someone you’re with has a deep wound that’s bleeding a lot, you might need to use a pressure bandage. Here’s what you should do step by step:

1. Get emergency help right away. Call for medical assistance or figure out how to get the injured person to a hospital as soon as possible.
2. Expose the wound. Carefully remove any clothing around the injury. You might need to cut the clothing if it’s in the way. If anything is stuck to the wound, leave it and work around it.
3. Don’t clean the wound or remove objects. Avoid washing the area or pulling out anything that might be stuck in the wound—that can cause more damage.
4. Cover the wound. If you have a first aid kit, use sterile, nonstick gauze. If not, go for the cleanest, most absorbent cloth you can find.
5. Make a bandage ribbon. Take a 3-foot piece of cloth and fold it into a ribbon about 4 inches wide. Wrap it firmly but gently around the limb. Tie it with a secure knot that you can adjust if needed. Make sure the knot isn’t sitting right on the wound.
6. Check for tightness. If the limb starts turning blue or feels cool, the bandage might be too tight. Loosen it slightly if necessary.
7. Raise the wound. Try to lift the injury above the person’s heart. If there’s a broken bone, you’ll need to splint the limb before doing this.
8. Apply pressure. Use your hand to press down on the wound for 5 to 10 minutes. This helps to slow the bleeding.

By now, the wound should be more stable. However, if blood is still soaking through the bandage or dripping, it means you need to reapply a tighter pressure bandage to stop the bleeding.

Too much blood loss can be dangerous and lead to serious problems like:

• Low blood pressure
• Less blood circulating in the body
• Problems with the heartbeat
• Low oxygen levels
• Losing consciousness or even worse, death

Always act quickly and carefully, and keep the wounded person as calm as possible until help arrives!

How to apply a pressure bandage?

If raising the wound, using gauze, and pressing with your hand hasn’t stopped the bleeding, here’s what you should do next:

1. Keep the person hydrated. If they’re awake and stable, encourage them to drink liquids. This helps make up for the blood they’ve lost.
2. Make a pressure bandage. If you don’t have one handy, you can use strips of cloth. Even torn clothing will work. Roll some strips into a wad and place it directly over the wound.
3. Secure the bandage. Take a longer strip of cloth and wrap it around the limb and the wad you just placed over the wound. Tie it off, but not too tight. It should stop the bleeding without cutting off circulation entirely. A good way to check is to see if you can slide your finger under the knot.
4. Use an elastic bandage if you have one. If you’ve got an elastic pressure bandage like an ACE wrap, you can use that instead. Wrap it tightly but carefully over gauze and another absorbent pad.
5. Check fingers and toes. Look at the person’s fingers or toes further from the bandage. Are they pink and warm? That’s good. If not, it might mean the bandage is too tight, and you’ll need to loosen it.
6. Keep checking the bleeding. Watch closely to make sure the bleeding stops. If you notice the limb turning pale, blue, cold, or feeling numb, loosen the bandage because it’s cutting off too much circulation.

Keep monitoring the person until help arrives or you can get them to proper medical care!

Pressure bandage for snake bite

You can also use a pressure bandage to treat venomous snake bites.

According to Queensland Children’s Hospital, applying firm pressure over the blood vessels at the site of the poisonous snake bite can slow the venom from progressing into the bloodstream.

Pressure bandage risks

If a pressure bandage is tied too tightly on an arm or leg, it can actually act like a tourniquet. A tourniquet completely blocks blood flow from the arteries.

When that happens, the tissues below the cut-off point, like nerves, muscles, and blood vessels, don’t get the oxygen they need. This can cause permanent damage and might even lead to losing the limb.

That’s why it’s so important to keep checking the bandage. Make sure it’s not too tight, and watch out for any swelling that might make it tighter over time.

At the same time, you still need to keep enough pressure on the wound to control the bleeding. Finding the right balance is key.

Takeaway

A pressure bandage can help control bleeding and give blood a chance to clot over a wound. It’s an effective way to stabilize certain injuries.

That said, it’s really important not to tie a pressure bandage too tightly. If it’s too tight, it could stop blood flow from the arteries, which is something you don’t want.

Pressure bandages can also come in handy for treating venomous snake bites. They can help slow down the venom from spreading into the bloodstream, giving the person more time to get medical help.

For more information visit Remedyu.com.