Properly applying a compression bandage to a serious injury can save your life or someone else's. This important first aid technique helps slow down heavy bleeding, putting pressure on injured blood vessels and promoting blood clotting. A compression bandage also helps treat poisonous snake bites by preventing venom or toxic substances from spreading through the blood system and entering the entire body. This type of bandage is most effective for stabilizing a wound on a limb, regardless of whether it is an arm or a leg.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Treat a Bleeding Wound
Step 1. Make bleeding top priority
Timing is extremely important when there is a deep wound that is bleeding a lot. Call or send someone for help immediately, or arrange to go to the nearest emergency room if you are in some remote area.
- Stabilize the victim as best you can before thinking of walking away if only the two of you are in the area. Instead, delegate tasks if there are several people present. Ask someone to call an ambulance if there is anyone else who can help you put on a compression bandage.
- If the victim is conscious, ask for their consent to deal with the wound before intervening.
Step 2. Expose the entire wound to assess its extent
Cut, tear, pull and / or lift each garment and move it away from the cut. If it's stuck to the wound, leave the portion of the dress in place and work around it. Do not try to wash the wound and resist the temptation to remove any objects stuck inside it.
- If you have sterile saline available, pour some over the wound to keep it moist and to gently peel off clothing.
- Helps the clotting process. If you tear off the part of the dress that is stuck to the cut, you can disturb the blood clot that is forming and aggravate the bleeding.
- You also don't want to remove any stuck objects, as they could help tampon or compress the wound. Injured blood vessels, arteries or veins repair faster when pressure is applied. By removing any stuck items, you could cause more blood loss or faster bleeding.
- Leave it to the medical staff to wash the wound. Even the most gentle cleaning could break off the blood clot. Severe and deep wounds must be treated differently from the rather common superficial cuts. Do not manipulate the cut more than necessary, but make sure to protect it from further contamination if there is dirt and chemicals in the surrounding area.
Step 3. Apply a regular bandage to the wound
Get the cleanest fabric you can find if you don't have a first aid kit; stabilize any penetrating objects protruding from the wound with some bandage or cloth before covering the area. When finished, fix the dressing.
Use a soft fabric, such as a garment, for the bandage. Cut or tear the cloth as needed. Use duct tape or wrap the limb in long fabric to hold the bandage in place. Be careful not to over-tighten the cloth
Step 4. Once tight and bandaged, check the limb for signs of ischemia
Make sure it doesn't turn blue or cold. This is an extremely important step when tying tissue around a limb.
Loosen the bandage slightly if you notice signs of insufficient oxygen supply to the limb or if you can't feel your pulse. Check your heart rate after the bandage. Check for pulses on the inside of the wrist near the thumb or on the top of the foot near the ankle
Step 5. Lift the injured limb
Place it higher than the heart, but only after splinting any broken bones.
- Elevate your leg by placing your foot or ankle on a backpack, log, rock or any other object; this step is useful when the victim is lying or sitting. If the injured limb is an arm, lift it by placing the forearm on the chest (if the injured person is lying on their back) or put the wrist over their head (if they are sitting).
- Splint the limb with some rigid object (branch, foam rubber, or cardboard) and wrap it with material suitable for the bandage (clothing or sturdy tape). First, wrap the hard object to avoid infection; afterwards, apply the splint to immobilize the injured area and keep the involved joint straight. Do not over tighten the bandage so as not to block blood flow.
Step 6. Apply manual pressure to the wound
Apply direct pressure with your hands over the lesion and hold it for 5 to 10 minutes. Look for signs of uncontrolled bleeding, such as if blood runs through the dressing or is dripping from it.
Step 7. Apply the compression bandage only if you do not get positive results with manual pressure and elevation
You must avoid prolonged and excessive blood loss, which can lead to a decrease in volume (less blood in the blood vessels), a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and even death.
It replenishes the blood volume and tries to raise blood pressure by providing the victim with fluids by mouth, but only if he is perfectly conscious
Step 8. Make an improvised bandage by taking a piece of garment
Use a piece of fabric ripped or cut from a shirt, pants, or socks. Put the compression bandage on the dressing you have already applied.
Protect and pay attention to the wound to prevent the bleeding from getting worse. If for some reason you have to remove the compression bandage, do not remove the underlying dressing, so as not to disturb the clot that is forming
Step 9. Secure the various layers of makeshift dressing over the wound
Take a long piece of fabric and wrap it around the dressing firmly and firmly, tying the ends together. Apply adequate pressure to try to stop the bleeding, but do not tighten too much so as not to create pressure similar to that of the tourniquet. you should be able to put a finger under the knot.
Step 10. Check the limb on which you applied the compression bandage often
Check the situation to make sure the bleeding has stopped. At this point, it may be necessary to proceed with other types of care. Also pay attention to signs of decreased circulation in the extremities, as there is a risk of tissue necrosis.
Loosen the compression bandage if the downstream ends of the injury start to become cold, bluish, numb, or you can't feel your pulse. When insufficient oxygen reaches the limb, the tissues begin to die, compromising them to the point of having to proceed with an amputation
Step 11. Treat bleeding wounds on the chest and head differently
Use a makeshift bandage or some bandage from the first aid kit to apply manual pressure to the torso (chest and abdomen) or head, in a very specific way. Be very cautious when treating these areas of the body.
- Change the technique when you apply pressure to the torso. The first steps are the same: don't move any objects stuck in the wound, apply a dressing and tape it if possible. In this circumstance, however, you must not block the gauze by wrapping it with fabric, otherwise you will compromise the victim's breathing capacity. Pile more tissue or bandages on top of the first dressing, maintaining enough manual pressure to stop bleeding without interfering with breathing. hold this squeeze for about 15 minutes. Keep pressing until help arrives if you see that the bleeding does not stop and soaks the bandage, or if blood is also leaking from the sides of the dressing.
- Do not apply any pressure on the victim's head if their skull appears deformed. Look out for sunken areas, obvious bone fragments, or exposed brain tissue. Do not apply pressure even if the wound involves the eyes or if you clearly notice that a foreign object has pierced the skull. Cover gently the lesion with gauze, leave the victim lying down and call the ambulance as soon as possible. Add more tissues if you see blood continuing to soak underneath.
- Evaluate the head injury and make sure the pressure is applied safely. Define which tissue you want to use as the main dressing and do not move it again, even if it is not fixed to the wound. Hair could prevent the duct tape from properly locking the gauze, while a long piece of fabric to wrap around the head could slip. Don't waste time trying to lock the dressing and never wrap anything around your neck. Apply manual pressure for 15 minutes on a cloth or bandage that you place on top of the first layer of gauze. If the bleeding doesn't stop, continue to maintain pressure until medical personnel arrive. The wounds on the head bleed a lot, because there are many blood vessels near the skin surface.
Step 12. Apply the tourniquet to a limb as a last resort
Use it only when other techniques (elevation, manual pressure, or compression bandaging) have not worked. This accessory compresses the arteries and veins very firmly and allows the passage of very small amounts of blood, avoiding its loss through the lesion.
You can use different tools, such as a special device, a belt or a long piece of cloth; remember that you can only apply the lace on the limbs. The ideal place to wrap it is on the thigh or upper arm; if the cut is right on these areas, apply it 5-10 cm upstream of the wound. The tourniquet should be closer to the heart than to the injury. Put something, such as a victim's clothing item, under the tourniquet to protect the skin, as it is a very different device than a compression bandage. it is very tight around the limb and can lead to serious risks of necrosis and ischemia. You must carefully weigh the risk of death with that of losing the limb. Do not remove the lace once applied
Method 2 of 2: Treating a Snake Bite
Step 1. First, immobilize the victim and apply a compression bandage to the arm
This procedure is intended to prevent the venom from spreading from the bite site to the bloodstream. As you treat the wound, think of a plan to get to a hospital or emergency room.
- Some research has shown that venom reaches the bloodstream only in minimal amounts when pressure is applied to the bite and the limb is immobilized, although there is still no clear evidence of this.
- When you go to places where poisonous snakes are known, make sure you are with at least two other people; one can call for help, while the other treats the wound.
Step 2. Do not remove the victim's clothing
Leave the person and the injured limb still as much as possible. Avoid stimulating the movement of poison into the bloodstream.
Step 3. Let the wound bleed freely for 15 to 30 seconds
Get as much poison out of the cut as possible. This device, together with the immediate immobilization of the limb, prevents toxins from flowing in the blood and reaching the whole body.
Step 4. Get some soft, flexible material to apply the compression bandage
Use a compression bandage or pantyhose if available. Improvise with what you have and make a bandage by cutting or tearing some soft items, such as clothes or towels, into strips.
Step 5. Apply the compression bandage towards the top of the limb
Wrap the bandage all over the area so that at least the area of skin affected by the bite is covered. The only limit you have is the length of the material available.
- If the bite is anywhere on the leg, start wrapping the foot and continue well beyond the knee. If the affected limb is an arm, start at the fingertips and go past the elbow. When the lesion is in the upper arm or thigh, bandaging is not easy; you will then have to treat it like a wound on the torso.
- This upward bandage may bring some poison into the circulatory system, but it is much more comfortable for the victim, who will be able to tolerate it for a longer period. The pressure exerted should be similar to that applied for a sprained ankle.
Step 6. Immobilize the injured limb with a splint
Be sure to lock the joint as well, to limit movement even more. Do not allow the victim to move the limb in an attempt to help you apply the splint.
Use any hard object available - a branch, a tool with a handle, or a rolled-up newspaper. Wrap this item with the same soft, flexible material you used for the compression wrap
Step 7. Check the pulse of the injured limb
Loosen the bandage if you do not feel the pulse, because it means it is too tight; tighten it instead if the heartbeat decreases, because in this case it is probably too slow. You must feel a strong and normal pulse.
Check your heart rate by feeling the top of your foot when applying a bandage to your leg. if you have a bandaged arm, check the pulse at the wrist, near the thumb
Step 8. Keep the limb in a neutral position, so that it is not subjected to the force of gravity, if possible
Poison travels through the circulatory system when the limb is at a higher level than the heart, while you can cause edema if you keep it at a lower level.
Have the victim lie on their back with their arms at their sides. It shouldn't move for any reason
Step 9. Manage torso, head and neck bites differently
Apply several layers of fabric or gauze to apply manual pressure on the trunk. Make sure you don't interfere with your breathing. Do not give any help if the snake has bitten its head or neck; keep the patient still, regardless of the site of the bite and seek immediate medical attention.
Step 10. Inject the antidote as soon as possible
Do not remove the compression bandage until before administering the appropriate drug treatment in the hospital. Prompt intervention reduces the chances of serious permanent damage and death.
- The antidote contains antibodies (blood cells that the body uses to destroy external agents) specific to neutralize the venom of snakes; it is obtained from the blood of horses or sheep exposed to poison.
- Don't consider the old remedies for treating snake bites. Do not suck the poison from the wound, do not apply cold or hot compresses, much less a tourniquet. Do not delay healing in an attempt to kill or capture the snake.
- Treat each bite as if it were caused by a venomous snake if you can't recognize the reptile.
Step 11. Provide supportive care to the victim
Help her manage any symptoms that arise. Encourage her to stand still, but remember that the antidote remains the ultimate treatment to neutralize the poison and help the person feel better.
