Gauze is the most common material from which bandages are made, but gauze has other uses as well.

  However, in medicine we generally refer to bandages and dressings simply as "gauze," although the actual name would be something like "3 inch roll gauze bandage" or "4 x 4 gauze bandage."

   Gauze bandages such as 2X2, 4X4, etc.  It should be applied directly to the wound.  It is usually sterile or at least clean.

   Rolled gauze is wrapped around the tip, head, etc.  To hold the gauze bandage in place.

   Some bleeding will not slow or stop unless applied with light pressure.  A rolled gauze pad may be used to provide firm pressure.  A gauze pad may be applied to the wound and then bandaged tightly.  Some types of gauze stick to themselves and don't require tape, while others need tape or tape to hold them in place.

When we treat wounds, we dress and put a bandage on.  The bandage can be from 2 x 2 gauze to a 10 x 30 trauma bandage.  A gauze bandage, a tie bandage, or even a piece of duct tape can be wrapped.  The Band-Aid is Band-Aid and Band-Aid in one.

   The bandage should be tight enough to hold the bandage over the body, but loose enough not to cut off circulation.  The scale I use is that I place two flat fingers across from the tip of the bandage and I wrap myself over it.  If it's squeezing my fingers, it's too tight, but if it's not snug, it's too loose.

   Create a tab for better control.  If you decide to peel it off quickly, be sure to peel off one edge of the bandage first.  Then pull parallel to your baby's skin.  This will encourage the adhesive to loosen rather than stick to the skin.  To ease your child's anxiety, ask your child to take a deep breath, then tell him that you will remove the bandage to a count of three.

   Remove the bandage after bathing.  Bathing with the bandage still intact can clean the surrounding area and make it easier to remove.