History of Triangular Bandage

D r. M a t h i a s M a y o r i s a s u r g e o n f r o m
Lausanne, Switzerland in the year 1830.
Mayor who was first credited with defining
an organized method in which a simple
handkerchief could be used in a variety of
configurations to help manage common
injuries in the short-term, until the injured
person could be seen by a doctor.

The triangular bandage actually began life

as a square or rectangle. Mayor simply
recommended a first step of folding the
handkerchief corner to corner to produce
the more functional triangular shape. Other
commonly detailed shapes included the
oblong, cravat, and cord, depending on the
intended use.
Johann Friedrich August von Esmarch
was the army’s Surgeon General.
Having been a field surgeon in the
Franco-Prussian War, Esmarch was
keenly aware of the difficulties in
stabilizing battlefield wounds to give
wounded soldiers a chance to stay
alive long enough to get more definitive
care.

As part of a soldier’s standard gear,

Esmarch created what was known as
the “von Esmarch triangular cloth
bandage”, an evolution of the bandage
Mayor had created years earlier.
Bandaging
Definition:

Bandaging is a process of covering a wound or an injured part.

Bandaging are used for the following purposes:

Ø To prevent contamination of wound by holding dressings in position.

Ø To provide support to the part that is injured, sprained or dislocate joint.
Ø To provide rest to the part that is injured.
Ø To prevent and control hemorrhage.
Ø To restrict movement/immobilize a fracture or dislocation.
Ø To correct deformity.
Ø To maintain pressure e.g. elastic bandages applied to the improve venous
return.
Types of Bandages:
Triangular Bandage
Types of Bandages:
Roller Bandage
Size of bandage
How to Use a Triangular Bandage
to Treat a Sprain or Fracture
If someone suffers a broken leg, a pair of triangular bandages can be used to
immobilize it. A blanket can be placed between the person’s legs and two triangular
bandages can be used to tie the legs together. They should be tied firmly, but not so
tightly that they restrict circulation. A triangular bandage should not be used over a
compound fracture with a bone sticking out of a wound.

A triangular bandage can be used to provide immediate first aid in an emergency,

but it is not a substitute for professional medical help. For a serious injury, go to a
doctor or the nearest emergency room.
Types of Knot

Ø Square knot
Ø Fisherman’s knot
Square Knot
v Cross two lines

v Right over left and left over

right

v Ends must be on the same

side
Fisherman’s Knot
HEAD
Head Bandaging
v Vertical bandage carried A B
twice forwards and once
backwards.

v Continue to pass the

vertical bandage
backwards and forwards,
each time a little to the left
and right alternately,
locking it with the C
horizontal bandage

v Finally, pass horizontal

bandage twice around the
head, and pin in front.
Triangular Bandage to the Head
v Turn the base (longest side)
of the bandage up and
center its base on center of
the forehead, letting the
point (apex) fall on the back
of the neck.

v Take the ends behind the

head and cross the ends
over the apex.

v Take them over the forehead

and tie them.

v Tuck the apex behind the

crossed part of the bandage
and/or secure it with a safety
pin, if available.
Cravat Bandage for Forehead
v Place the center of the
cravat over the compress
covering the wound.

v Carry the ends around to the

opposite side of the head,
cross them. Bring them back
to the starting point and tie
them.
Cravat Bandage for Cheek or Ear
v Use the wide cravat. Start
with the middle of the cravat A B
over the compress covering
the cheek or the ear.

v Carry one end over the top

of the head and the other
under the chin

v Cross the ends at the

opposite side. C D

v Bring the short end back

around the forehead and the
long end around the back of
the head.

v Tie them down over the

compress.
Cravat Bandage for Eye
v Lay center of the first cravat
over top of the head with the
front end falling over
uninjured eye.

v Bring second cravat around

head, over eyes, and over
loose ends of first cravat. Tie
in front.

v Bring ends of first cravat

back over top of head, tying
there and pulling second
cravat up and away from
uninjured eye.
Jaw Injuries and Bandaging
v Place the bandage under the
chin and carry its ends
upward. Adjust the bandage
to make one end longer than
the other.

v Take the longer end over the

top of the head to meet the
short end at the temple and
cross the ends over.

v Take the ends in opposite

direction to the other side of
the head and tie them over
the part of the bandage that
was applied first.
Cravat Bandage for the Neck
v Place the center of the
cravat over the compress
covering the wound.

v Carry the ends around the

neck, cross them. Bring
them back to the starting
point and tie them loosely.
ARM AND CHEST
Arm Sling
v Place folded base
vertically over

v One arm, with pointed

directly under the elbow
of injured arm

v Lower ends of base at the

side of the neck using a
square knot

v Make several twist with

apex and tie a knot

v Hide the knot

Underarm Sling
v Same procedure as arm
sling except that the
lower end of the base is
tucked under the injured
arm.

v Secure end of base and

apex with a square knot
the center indention at
the back.
Shoulder Bandage
v Take one bandage across
the chest and the other
across the back and
under the arm opposite
the injured shoulder.

v Tie the ends with a

nonslip knot
Cravat for Shoulder Armpit
v Make an extended cravat
bandage by using two
triangular bandages; place
the end of the first
triangular bandage along
the base of the second one.

v Fold the two bandages into

a single extended bandage.

v Fold the extended bandage

into a single cravat bandage.
After folding, secure the
thicker part (overlap) with
two or more safety pins.
Cravat for Shoulder Armpit
v Place the middle of the
cravat bandage under the
armpit so that the front end
is longer than the back end
and safety pins are on the
outside.

v Cross the ends on top of the

shoulder.

v Take one end across the

back and under the arm on
the opposite side and the
other end across the chest.
Tie the ends.
Chest Bandage
v Apex at the shoulder of
injured part.

v Pull back folded base and

secure with square knot
at the center indention of
the back.

v Knot/tie longer end with

apex.
Abdominal Binder
v Place the middle of the
cravat bandage under the
armpit so that the front end
is longer than the back end
and safety pins are on the
outside.
Cravat for Elbow
v Bend arm at elbow and
place center of cravat at
point of elbow.

v Bring ends up and cross

each other in overlapping
spiral turns. Continue one
end up arm and the other
end down forearm.

v Bring ends to front of

elbow and tie.
Cravat for Arm
v Place center of cravat
over the dressing

v Begin ascending turn with

upper end and
descending turns with
lower end, with each turn
covering two-third of
preceding turn until
dressing is covered.

v Terminate by tying both

ends in square knot.
Hand Bandage
v Place the hand in the
middle of the triangular
bandage with the wrist at
the base

v Place the apex over the

finger and tuck any excess
materials into the pleats on
each side of the hand

v Cross the ends on top of

the hand, take them
around the wrist, and tie
them with the square knot.
Cravat Bandage to the Palm
v Lay the middle of the cravat over the
palm of the hand with the ends
hanging down on each side

v Take the end of the cravat at the little

finger across the back of the hand,
extending it upward over the base of
the thumb; then bring it downward
across the palm

v Take the thumb and across the back of

the hand, over the palm, and through
the hollow between the thumb and
palm

v Take the ends to the back of the hand

and cross them; then bring them up
over the wrist and cross them again

v Bring both ends down and tie them

with a nonslip knot on top of the wrist
LOWER EXTREMITIES
Triangular bandage for Hip &
Buttocks
v Cut or tear the point, perpendicular
to the base, about 10 inches.

v Tie the two points around the thigh

on the injured side.

v Lift the base up to the waistline, fold

to the desired width, grasp the ends,
fold or roll the sides to store the
excess bandage, carry the ends
around the waist, and tie on the
opposite side of the body.
Cravat for Leg and Thigh
v Place center of cravat
over the dressing

v Begin ascending turn with

upper end and
descending turns with
lower end, with each turn
covering two-third of
preceding turn until
dressing is covered.

v Terminate by tying both

ends in square knot.
Cravat for the Knee
v Start on the top of the knees.

v Cross over and twist 2-3 time

under the knee.

v Cross over on top/pull ends

to opposite sides.

v Secure with a square knot

under the knee.
Foot Bandage
v Place the foot in the middle of
the triangular bandage with the
heel well forward of the base.
Ensure that the toes are
separated with absorbent
material to prevent chafing and
irritation of the skin.

v Place the apex over the top of

the foot and tuck any excess
material into the pleats on each
side of the foot

v Cross the ends on top of the

foot, take them around the ankle,
and tie them with the square
knot at the front of the ankle.