First Aid: A Helpful Reference for Anyone

These pages hold instructions on how to do some common first aid procedures as well as others that may include long-term care.

NOTE - This page is meant to be a reference during role-play. It is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any real medical condition. Any risk or liability is your own.

Bandages and Dressings | Burns and Scalds | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | Controlling Bleeding | Delivering a Baby | Miscellaneous Procedures | Shock | Sprains, Strains, and Fractures | Treating Wounds

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Bandages and Dressings

First Aid Bandages and Dressings | Square Knot | Slings | Principles of Bandaging

First Aid Bandages and Dressings

Bandage compress
Gauze
Roller bandage
Adhesive compress
Triangular bandage
Cravat bandages.

Bandage Compress
A bandage compress is a special dressing intended to cover open wounds. It consists of a pad made of several thicknessess of gauze attached to the middle of a strip of gauze. Pad sizes range from one to four inches. Bandage compresses usually come folded so that the gauze pad can be applied directly to the open wound with virtually no exposure to the air or fingers. The strip of gauze at either side of the gauze pad is folded back so that it can be opened and the bandage compress tied in place with no disturbance of the sterile pad. The gauze of a bandage compress may be extended to twice its normal size by opening up folded gauze. Unless otherwise specified, all bandage compresses and all gauze dressings should be covered with an open triangular cravat or roller bandage.

Gauze
Gauze is used in several ways to apply first aid dressings. Plain gauze may be used in place of a bandage compress to cover large wounds and wounds of the trunk. Plain gauze of various sizes is available. In cases of profuse bleeding or where bulk is required to stabilize embedded objects, use several layers of gauze. Care should be taken not to touch the portion of the gauze that is to be placed in contact with the wound.

Roller Bandage
The gause roller bandage is a self-adhering form-fitting bandage. It can be made secure with several snug overlapping wraps then tied in place.

Adhesive Compress
An adhesive compress is a self-adhering bandage that has gauze to cover the wound and a sticky backing which holds to the victim's skin.

Triangular Bandage
A standard triangular bandage is made from a piece of of cloth approximately forty inches square by folding the square diagonally and cutting along the fold. It is easily applied and can be handled so that the part to be applied over wound or burn dressings will not be soiled.
A triangular bandage does not tend to slip off once it is correctly applied. It is usually made from unbleached cotton cloth, although any kind of cloth will do. In emergencies, a triangular bandage can be improvised from a clean handkerchief, a clean piece of shirt, etc.
The triangular bandage is also used to make improvised tourniquets, to support fractures and dislocations, to apply splints, and to form slings. If a regular-size bandage is found to be too short when a dressing is applied, it can be lengthened by tying another bandage to one end.

Cravat Bandages
A triangular bandage may be used open or folded. When folded, it is known as a cravat. A cravat bandage is prepared as follows:

Make a one inch fold along the base of the triangular bandage.
Bring the point (apex) to the center of the folded base, placing the point underneath the fold, to make a wide cravat bandage.
A medium cravat is made by folding lengthwise along a line midway between the base and the new top of the bandage, in effect, folding the wide cravat bandage in half lengthwise.
A narrow cravat is made by repeating the folding.

This method has the advantage that all bandages can be folded to a uniform width, or the width may be varied to suit the purpose for which it is to be used. To complete a dressing, the ends of the bandage are tied securely.

Square Knot

Unless otherwise specified, all knots or ties mentioned in this reference should be tied in a square knot.
To tie a square knot, take an end of the bandage in each hand, pass the end in the right hand over and around the end in the left and tie a single knot. Then pass the end now in the left hand over the end in the right hand, and complete the knot. Each loose end, after the second knot is tied, will be doubled back and lying against itself with the other end wrapped around it. The rule to remember in tying a square knot is right over left, then left over right.

Slings

Triangular Bandage Sling | Cravat Bandage Sling | Basket Sling

Slings are used to support injuries of the shoulder, upper extremities or ribs. In an emergency they may be improvized from belts, neckties, scarves, or similar articles. Bandages should be used if available.

Triangular Bandage Sling
Tie a triangular bandage sling as follows:

Place one end of the base of an open triangular bandage over the shoulder on the injured side.
Allow the bandage to hang down in front of the chest so that the apex, or point, will be behind the elbow of the injured arm.
Bend the arm at the elbow with hand slightly elevated (four to five inches).
Bring the forearm across the chest and over the bandage.
Carry the lower end of the bandage over the shoulder on the uninjured side and tie at uninjured side of the neck, being sure the knot is at the side of the neck.
Twist the apex of the bandage and tuck it in at the elbow.

The hand should be supported with the fingertips exposed, whenever possible, to permit detection of interference with circulation.

Cravat Bandage Sling
Tie a cravat bandage sling as follows:

Place one end over the shoulder on the injured side.
Allow the bandage to hang down in front of the chest.
Bend the arm at the elbow with hand slightly elevated four to five inches.
Bring the forearm across the chest and over the bandage.
Carry the lower end of the bandage over the injured arm to the shoulder on the uninjured side and tie at uninjured side of neck.

Basket Sling
A useful sling for transporting or handling a victim with a suspected neck injury or an unconscious victim whose arms may create difficulties, can be made with an open triangular bandage as follows:

Place an open triangular bandage across the chest with the apex down.
Fold the arms over one another on the bandage. Bring the ends of the base together and tie.
Cross the apex over the folded arms and tie to the knotted ends of the base.

Principles of Bandaging

Bandage wounds snugly, but not too tightly. A bandage too tight may damage surrounding tissue or interfere with the blood supply, especially if swelling occurs. A bandage tied too loosely may slip off the wound.
In bandaging the arms or legs, leave the tips of the fingers or toes uncovered where possible to detect and interference with circulation.
If the victim complains that the bandage is too tight, loosen it to make it comfortable, but snug. Unless otherwise specified, all knots should be tied over open wounds to help control bleeding.
If bandages become saturated with blood, apply additional bandages or dressings. Do not remove original dressing.

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For more detail relating to the healing of humans, here is a neat site that might help you. The golden fire lizard will show you the way!

Sources for these pages were:

Radcliffe, J. The New International Webster's Pocket Medical & First Aid Dictionary of the English Language. USA: Trident Press International, 1997.

Yahoo! Yahoo! Health Encyclopedia. June 2004.

All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are copyright ©
Anne McCaffrey 1967, 2001, all rights reserved, and used by permission of the author.

Special thanks to Nerissa and Avonelle, who helped in the compilation of this resource.