|  | Conditions Treatments | Wounds Injuries

What Are the Types of Bandaging?

When you are around someone who is injured and needs bandaging, it's helpful to be familiar with the various ways to apply a bandage to protect the injury site and stabilize the involved body part. There are a number of ways to apply gauze or a bandage to an injury. The type of bandaging to choose often depends on the part of the body where the injury has occurred.

  1. Circular Turn

    • The circular turn is a simple wrap around the affected body part. You apply one end of the bandage to the site of the injury and wrap the bandage material around a couple or more times, with each turn covering the previous one. The end of the bandage is fastened using tape, metal fastenings or a safety pin. The fastening is placed over an uninjured part of the wrapped area. The circular turn provides thick support in a concentrated area.

    Spiral Turn

    • The spiral turn is perhaps the best-known method of bandaging. It is typically used on wrists, upper legs and upper arms. Begin by making two cyclical turns around the area to be supported. Continue to wrap the bandage over itself, with each turn at about a 30-degree angle to the one before and covering about two-thirds of it. To finish, either tuck the end of the bandage into a fold, tape the end to the rest of the wrapping, or fasten it with a metal clip or safety pin.

    Spiral Reverse Turn

    • A more complex method, the spiral reverse turn is used to bandage the lower forearms and the calves. Begin by wrapping the bandage around the afflicted area twice. Then move the bandage up at a 30-degree angle and place the thumb of your free hand on its upper edge. Turn the bandage over so the side that was on top is now on the bottom. Continue in the same way to wrap around the limb so the folds in the various turns align. Attach the end of the bandage using metal fastenings, tape or safety pins.

    Figure-Eight Wrap

    • The figure-eight wrap is most often used for joints such as the knee and elbow. Begin in the same way as with the other methods. Wrap the bandage around the back of the joint and around so it forms a figure eight around the joint. Continue to wrap the bandaging over itself, covering two-thirds of the preceding layer. Then encircle the end around the top of the joint. Secure the end of the bandaging with first aid tape, a metal fastening or safety pins.

Wounds Injuries - Related Articles