Bandage

From ArticleWorld

A bandage is a piece of (often textile) material used to support medical devices like dressings or splints. Historically, bandages have been some of the oldest medical devices to be used, as evidence of their usage has been traced even beyond written history. There are many type of bandages which can be used, and their appliance and usage are not standardized, except for the adhesive bandages. In fact, bandages are often improvised whenever needed. Some bandages, called compression bandages, are used to compress a certain area, obstructing the blood flow to that area in order to avoid blood loss. Compression bandages should be used carefully though, as they may cause complications (including gangrenes) if they are applied incorrectly or too tightly.

It is not necessary for the bandages to be sterile, since they are applied over the dressings. However, bandages should be at least clean and impermeable as much as possible, in order to prevent severe blood loss and the protrusion of foreign liquids to the wound.

In common, daily speech, the term bandage is used even when referring to dressings, although from a medical point of view, they are different.