First Aid for Severe Bleeding Certification Manual: Equipment - Dressings & Bandages

Dressings & Bandages 

Dressings and bandages help control external bleeding by supporting firm, continuous pressure over a wound. The dressing is placed directly on the wound, while the bandage secures the dressing and helps maintain pressure. These materials should support bleeding control without delaying direct pressure or emergency medical care.

Gauze Dressings

A dressing is material placed directly over a wound to absorb blood and help apply pressure. Sterile gauze is preferred when available, but a clean cloth may be used when gauze is unavailable. A hemostatic dressing may be used according to the responder’s training and the product instructions.

Gauze Bandages

A bandage is material used to secure a dressing and help maintain pressure. A dressing is placed directly over the wound, while a bandage holds the dressing in place. Roller gauze and other bandages should be applied firmly enough to maintain pressure without unnecessarily restricting circulation. A bandage is not the same as a tourniquet — a bandage secures a dressing and maintains pressure over a wound, while a tourniquet is a separate device specifically designed to stop circulation to a limb when bleeding cannot otherwise be controlled.

Procedure for Dressing and Bandaging a Wound:

1. Ensure scene safety and obtain consent when possible
2. Use disposable gloves or another protective barrier if available
3. Call 911 and retrieve a bleeding-control kit for life-threatening bleeding
4. Locate and expose the source of the bleeding
5. Place gauze, a hemostatic dressing, or a clean cloth directly over the wound
6. Apply firm, continuous pressure. Use both hands when appropriate
7. Do not repeatedly lift the dressing to check whether the bleeding has stopped
8. If blood soaks through the original dressing, maintain pressure. One additional gauze pad may be placed over the original dressing if needed, but do not build a large stack of dressings
9. Once bleeding is controlled, secure the dressing with a bandage
10. If the dressing is on an arm or leg, check circulation beyond the injury before and after applying the bandage
11. Continue monitoring for renewed bleeding and changes in responsiveness or breathing until EMS arrives