What Are Band Aid Bandages?

The band-aid is a long tape with gauze impregnated with drugs in the middle, which is applied to the wound to protect the wound, temporarily stop bleeding, resist bacterial regeneration, and prevent the wound from being damaged again ^[1] . Is the most commonly used first aid medical supplies in hospitals, clinics and homes.

Chinese name: band Aid

Foreign name: AdhesiveBandage

Band-Aid Definition

Band-aids are commonly known as sterilization elastic band-aids, and they are the most commonly used first-aid medical supplies in people's lives. Band-Aids are mainly composed of plain cloth tape and absorbent pad. With hemostasis, protecting creative use. According to different needs, a variety of band-aids are now available for patients.

Band-Aid invention background

In the early 20th century, Mrs. El Dixon was just married and had no experience in cooking. She often cut or burned herself in the kitchen. El Dixon was working at a company that produced surgical bandages, and he soon became skilled at bandaging his wife. He thought that if there was a bandage, she would be able to bandage herself when the wife was injured and no one was helping.

So he started experimenting. He considered that if gauze and bandage were made together, he could use one hand to bandage the wound. He took a piece of gauze and laid it on the table, glued it, and folded the other gauze into a gauze pad and placed it in the middle of the bandage. But there is a problem. The adhesive that makes this bandage dries when exposed to air for a long time. Dixon tried many different fabrics to cover the tape, hoping to find a material that would not be difficult to peel off when needed. Later, he found that a kind of coarse gauze can do this task well. After being improved by the company, it can be widely used.

Band-Aid Classification

According to the 2018 Medical Device Classification Catalog of the State Drug Administration, Band-Aids are divided into:

Aseptically provided, disposable wound bandages belong to the category II medical device management category and are used for the care of superficial wounds such as small wounds, abrasions, and cuts.

Non-sterile, single-use wound bandages belong to the category I medical device management category, and are used for first-aid and temporary bandaging of superficial wounds such as small wounds, abrasions, and cuts.

Both usually consist of a sheet-like or roll-shaped wound band consisting of a gummed substrate, an absorbent pad, an anti-blocking layer, and a peelable protective layer. The absorbent pad is generally made of a material that can absorb exudate. Contains no pharmacological effects. The contained ingredients cannot be absorbed by the human body ^[2] .

Band-Aid Certificate

Commonly used for hemostasis, anti-inflammatory or trauma of small acute wounds. It is especially suitable for neat, clean, superficial, small wounds, cuts, scratches or punctures that do not require sutures. Convenient to carry, easy to use, essential medical and health materials for home, hospital, and clinic first aid ^[3] .

Band-aid Relative Contraindications

It is best not to use a band-aid directly in the following situations:

1. Small, deep wounds cannot be applied.

2. Wounds bitten by animals cannot be attached.

3. Various skin bloated cannot be attached.

4. Heavily contaminated wounds should not be applied.

5. Minimal abrasion of the epidermis is not necessary.

6. People with severe wounds and contaminated wounds.

7. Stuck by iron nails, knife points, etc.

8. When the wound is not clean or there is a foreign body in the wound.

9. When ulcers and yellow water flow after burns.

10. Contaminated or infected wounds, wounds with secretions or pus should not be used on wounds.

How to use band-aid

Generally speaking, if there is only a minor cuticle, it is not necessary to use a band-aid. Just use iodine or alcohol to prevent infection. You can also apply a thin layer of purple potion, so that the wound can crust and dry after two or three days.

If the skin wound is relatively deep and is treated unconditionally, the wound needs to be rinsed with clean water and then simply bandaged with a bandage. But the package time should not be too long, it is best not to exceed the current two days.

When in use, tear the packaging, apply the middle absorbent pad to the wound, then remove the cover film at both ends and fix the position with tape.

Band-Aid Advantages and Disadvantages

advantage

Band-aids can compress hemostasis, protect wounds, prevent infections, and promote healing. At the same time, they have the advantages of small size, simple use, convenient portability, and reliable curative effects.

Disadvantage

The adhesive tape used in traditional band-aids has poor breathability, and water vapor and sweat normally secreted by the human body cannot penetrate this layer of adhesive tape, so it has a soaking effect on the local skin, which is manifested as local skin folds [1].

Band-Aid Misunderstandings and Precautions

Band-aid is one of the necessary first-aid medicines in every family, but many people do not understand the correct way to use the band-aid. Here are some common misunderstandings:

Band-aid is a panacea

Band-aids are not a panacea and are not suitable for all wounds. In general, the wound band is mainly used for some small and shallow wounds, especially for cutting wounds with neat, clean, less bleeding, and without sutures, such as knife cuts, cuts, glass scratches, etc.

The right approach: Strictly grasp the indications. For larger, deeper wounds with foreign bodies, it is not advisable to use a wound stick. In this case, you should go to the hospital in time. For contaminated or infected wounds, such as heavy skin abrasions, burns, etc., it is not advisable to use a wound stick. For folliculitis, bloated, purulent infections and various skin diseases, it is not advisable to use a wound stick. For wounds caused by animal bites such as dog bites, cat scratches, snake bites, poisonous insect stings, or bites, do not use a band-aid to avoid the accumulation or spread of poisonous juice and bacteria in the wound. In the first time, rinse the wound with water, cold tea water, mineral water, physiological saline, 2% soap water, etc. repeatedly for more than 15 minutes.

2. Band-aid can be casually posted

When using a band-aid, it is always convenient to figure it out, and it is not correct to just post it.

Correct method: Before using the band-aid, first check whether there is dirt in the wound. If there is any dirt, you must first clean the wound with disinfected normal saline, and then put on the band-aid. If the wound is punctured and deep by iron nails, you should go to the hospital for treatment immediately and need to inject tetanus antitoxin. Secondly, after opening the wound, avoid contaminating the medicine surface. When applying, the medicine surface must be aligned with the wound, and the pressure on both sides of the wound is slightly pressed after the application.

3. Band-Aids Can Last Long

Applying a band-aid to a wound is not the same as "everything is good," nor can it be left untouched for a long time.

The correct approach: First, pay attention to observe the changes in the wound. If after 24 hours of using the band-aid, there is a pulsating pain similar to pulse beating at the wound, or if there is overflow of secretions, open it in time to observe the swelling and pain around the wound. If so, it means that the wound is infected and you should ask your doctor immediately. The second is to protect the wound. After using a band-aid, do not pinch the wound often with your hands. The wound should be moved as little as possible to prevent collisions, so as to prevent the wound from cracking. Third, the use time of the band-aid should not be too long, otherwise it will breed bacteria and should be changed every day.

4. Water-proof band-aid is not afraid of water

It is not possible to use water-resistant band-aids for prolonged contact with water. If the band-aid does not adhere tightly to the skin around the wound, especially in special areas, such as fingertips, knees, and elbows, the waterproofing will not become "waterproof".

Correct method: When using a waterproof band-aid, try to avoid contact with water as much as possible, pay attention to observe and protect the wound, and replace the wet-wound bandage in time.