How to Apply a Pressure Bandage

          A minor would will stop bleeding by itself by forming a clot. With a serious injury, blood my flow from the wound so quickly that it does not have a chance to clot. Although, "If the bleeding stops, or if you need to free your hands to attend to other injuries or move the victim, a pressure bandage will hold dressings in place and maintain pressure on the wound" (Handal 67).  Make sure you have the right materials, and if able to, wash or clean the wound before bandaging to lower the change of infection. "Call EMS whenever bleeding isn't quickly controlled" (Handal 66).

To apply a pressure bandage, do the following:

1. Hold dressings/fabric firmly in place over the wound

2. Wrap a roller bandage or long strip of cloth firmly around the would, securing the dressings in place.

3. If the wound is on a limb, use overlapping turns. Do not wrap the bandage over and over the same spot

4. Split the end of the bandage into 2 strips, then tie the ends tight. Tie the knot directly over the wound

5. Check to be sure the pressure bandage is not too tight. It should be tight enough to maintain pressure on the wound, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation further down the arm or leg.

6. If you can't detect a pulse beyond the wound, or if the skin beyond the wound is turning bluish, the pressure bandage is too tight.

Once when my 3 year old cousin, fell against a table, we used these same steps to help secure and slow down the bleeding on his wound. It was one of the most effective ways to slow down the bleeding and cause blood loss. Have you ever been in a situation where you've seen or had to bandage yourself or someone? If so, what happened?