Wound Dressings

1. Apply sterile gauze dressings or pads—DO NOT touch the sterile side of the dressing, and DO NOT allow the sterile side of the dressing to come in contact with any surface other than the wound.
2. Place the dressing over the wound and hold in place with one hand. Use the other hand to wrap gauze bandages around the injured part, covering about one-half of the dressing. Leave enough of a tail to tie a knot.
3. Wrap the other tail in the opposite direction until the remainder of the dressing is covered. The tails should seal the sides of the dressing to keep foreign material from getting under it.
4. Tie the tails into a knot over the outer edge of the dressing. DO NOT TIE THE KNOT OVER THE WOUND.
5. To allow blood to fl ow to the rest of an injured limb, tie the dressing firmly enough to prevent it from slipping, but without causing a tourniquet-like effect (the skin beyond the injury becomes cool blue, or numb).