subject: The Purpose Of Quality Medical Bandages [print this page] Historically speaking, the first medical bandages were made of plants, crude linens and animal skins. Modern medicine has advanced enough to allow people to dress their wounds with sterile medical bandages, and not the skins of their latest kills.
Medical bandages arent just the white rolls of gauze that you see glamorized on soap operas (men and women in the hospital waking up with a gauzed wrapped head complaining of amnesia). There are many different types, sizes, lengths, and purposes of medical bandages.
Medical bandages are usually made with linen, cotton or synthetic materials and are always sterilized before packaging or use.
Medical Bandages for Household Use
Most people only have access to the household medical bandages that they buy at the drug store. These bandages come in little boxes and are sometimes covered in images of cartoon characters or kissy lips. These medical bandages, or Band Aids, are the smallest of the medical bandages are general made with plastic exteriors with adhesive strips, and a tiny patch of gauze in the middle of the anterior side.
Also, sterile gauze pads are medical bandages that are bought and sold at drugs stores as well. People use different sizes of gauze pads to treat wounds in their homes. Wounds such as: open cuts, gashes, large abrasions, and even superficial cuts can be cleaned, covered with gauze and left to heal.
Medical Bandages for Outdoor Use
School sports and community sports leagues are known to carry and use well stocked first aid kits. These first aid kits contain ointments, alcohol swabs, medical bandages and even emergency equipment such as a defibrillator (used when the heart stops beating to regain regular heart rhythms).
Another form of medical bandage used often in outdoor activities is the ace bandage. The ace bandage is used when an extremity needs to be immobilized to prevent further injury and to aid in healing or the reduction of swelling. Ace bandages are also used to bind the breasts to prevent painful or annoying movements during sporting events.
Medical Bandages for Hospital Use
The one place you will see all forms of medical bandages in use is the hospital. Hospitals order and use thousands of medical bandages a day, in all kinds of treatments. Medical bandages are sterile, quick and easy to use and are in great supply. Medical bandages are used for post op wound dressing, emergency care, and clinic treatments. The wide variety of medical bandages are necessitated by the wide variety of medical needs found in hospitals.
