Bandages and Bones: Things you WISH you knew!

mimmii7777
Oct 31, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Nov 2, 2020

The Art of Bandaging

When it comes to bandaging, the location of the injury affects how one bandages said injury. Stitches may be needed if the cut is jagged, deep, or longer than half an inch.

Covering a break in the skin helps to control bleeding and protect against infection. Dressings are pads of gauze or cloth that can be placed directly against the wound to absorb blood and other fluids. Cloth bandages cover dressings and hold them in place. (fairview.org)

Steps to follow when bandaging:

1. Dress the wound

Wear gloves to avoid contact with the victim's blood.
Clean the wound with mild soap and water.
Apply a small layer of topical antibiotics if needed.
Place a clean dressing over the entire wound. Gauze dressings let in air for faster healing. Nonstick dressings have a special surface that won't cling to the wound.
If blood soaks through the dressing, place another dressing over the first one.

2. Cover the bandage

Wrap roller gauze or cloth strips over the dressing and around the wound several times.
Extend the bandage at least an inch beyond both sides of the dressing.
Don't wrap the bandage so tight that it interferes with blood flow to healthy tissue.

3. Secure the bandage

Tie or tape the bandage in place.
Don't secure the bandage so tight that fingers or toes become pale or blue.

4. Check circulation

Check circulation in the area below the bandage after several minutes and again after several hours. If circulation is poor, the skin may look pale or blue or feel cold. Signs of poor circulation also include numbness and tingling.
If circulation is reduced, loosen the bandage right away. If symptoms continue, get medical care.

Types of bandaging

The video below shows different types of wound dressings and the use of each. Disclaimer: there are blood and injuries shown in the video. Do not watch if you are squeamish.

Musculoskeletal Injuries

What are they?

They are a range of disorders involving muscles, bones, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, and other soft tissues. The most common term used to describe these disorders is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). Some examples of musculoskeletal disorders are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, and Bursitis. (osstf.on.ca)

The severity of symptoms differs from person to person.

Stage 1: Dull aching pain/fatigue which disappears with rest.
Stage 2: Recurrent aching/fatigue which begins after work starts and continues after work ceases. Fatigue often present due to intermittent night pain. Reduced capacity to perform repetitive daily tasks.
Stage 3: Inability to perform daily tasks. Persistent aching and fatigue. Weakness while at rest as well as pain even with non-repetitive movement.

Some common disorders:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Tendonitis
Muscle/Tendon strain
Ligament Sprain
Tension Neck Syndrome
Thoracic Outlet Compression
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
Epicondylitis
Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Digital Neuritis
Trigger Finger / Thumb
DeQuervain’s Syndrome
Mechanical Back Syndrome
Degenerative Disc Disease
Ruptured / Herniated Disc

As you can see, the disorders are numerous.

What are they caused by?

To understand what causes musculoskeletal pain, watch this short informative video!

How are they treated?

Various methods are used to treat musculoskeletal injuries.

Some treatments include:

Physical or occupational therapy.
Using a splint to immobilize the affected joint and allow healing.
Using heat or cold.
Reducing workload and increasing rest.
Reducing stress through relaxation and biofeedback techniques.
Acupuncture or acupressure.
Injections with anesthetic or anti-inflammatory medications in or around the painful sites.
Strengthening and conditioning exercises.
Stretching exercises.
Chiropractic care.
Therapeutic massage