A butterfly bandage seems to be like its identify. It consists of two wings of adhesive tape with a skinny band within the center. The thought is that the bigger items of adhesive grip the pores and skin to drag the pores and skin collectively, closing the wound beneath the small strip within the middle.
There’s little or no in regards to the historical past of butterfly bandages, though it’s an excellent guess it was developed after 1900 when adhesive tape turned widespread and widespread. It appears cheap to imagine that it first confirmed up within the trenches of World Warfare I, nevertheless it’s nonetheless used right this moment as an ordinary remedy for cuts, wounds, and even after easy surgical procedures.
Whereas it’s an efficient option to shut a wound, it doesn’t take the place of stitches for terribly deep or lengthy cuts. In these cases, it’s an non-compulsory option to maintain the wound closed and cut back bleeding till an injured particular person can get skilled medical assist and stitches.
Alternatively, it may be all that’s wanted for smaller cuts that aren’t deep or bleeding profusely.
Wish to save this submit for later? Click on Right here to Pin It On Pinterest!
However Butterfly Bandages Don’t At all times Work
Butterfly bandages received’t work if the minimize is giant or gaping, has ragged edges, or received’t cease bleeding. In these instances, they can be utilized as a fast stop-gap measure on the way in which to the emergency room however should not a long-term resolution.
Nevertheless, if the bleeding just isn’t profuse, a traditional bandage can be utilized as an alternative of a butterfly bandage if it’s giant sufficient to cowl a ragged or gaping wound, and assuming there’s a further remedy associated to cleansing the wound and the usage of topical antiseptics.
Butterfly bandages additionally received’t work on some elements of the physique, particularly elbows, knees, ankles, and the palm and finger joints. The fixed bending causes the adhesive tape to come back unfastened so stitches can be vital, though right here once more a butterfly bandage may work for the brief time period till the injured particular person can attain skilled medical care.
Butterfly bandages additionally fail when utilized to any a part of the physique that’s bushy like legs or the top. That is one other state of affairs the place skilled medical care and stitches can be required.
Associated Article: 4 Suggestions To Cease Somebody From Bleeding To Loss of life
Making a Primary Butterfly Bandage
You’ll want some tape and scissors. The most effective tape is sterilized surgical tape that you may purchase at any pharmacy or on-line. In a pinch, any tape that adheres strongly to the pores and skin will do, even duct tape.
In actual fact, duct tape will adhere to the pores and skin very strongly. The largest problem with a duct tape butterfly is taking it off. Duct tape could stick with the pores and skin so properly that eradicating it tears open a wound that’s nonetheless attempting to heal.
Whatever the tape, what’s most necessary is reducing the essential butterfly form. There are different components associated to wound care that we’ll cowl later.
Step 1
For a fundamental butterfly bandage, minimize a chunk of tape about 2 inches lengthy.
You’ll be able to minimize it shorter or longer relying on the placement of the wound.
Step 2
Begin by reducing a V-notch in the direction of the middle of the tape.
Ensure you depart room for a slim hole within the center.
Step 3
Minimize the second notch on the alternative facet.
Step 4
Apply the bandage the place wanted. The wonderful thing about reducing your personal butterfly bandages is that you may customise the dimensions of the bandage to the a part of the physique the place the wound has occurred.
In case you’re in an space or location the place you don’t have scissors or any option to successfully minimize the wings, you possibly can twist the adhesive tape to create a slim band within the middle, supplying you with the 2 wings.
You’d then both wait to get residence to chop and use a greater butterfly bandage, purchase some, or go to the physician and get stitches.
And don’t attempt to make one giant butterfly bandage to shut a protracted wound. Use a number of butterfly bandages very like a health care provider would use a number of stitches.
The idea seems to be simple when you perceive the fundamentals, however there’s rather more to wound care than closing the minimize.
Complete Wound Therapy
Listed here are the steps to wound care requiring a butterfly bandage beneficial by quite a few medical sources together with the Mayo Clinic:
- Wash your palms. This helps keep away from an infection.
- Cease the bleeding. Minor cuts and scrapes normally cease bleeding on their very own. If wanted, apply mild strain with a clear bandage or fabric and elevate the wound till bleeding stops.
- Clear the wound. Rinse the wound with water. Maintaining the wound beneath working faucet water will cut back the chance of an infection. Wash across the wound with cleaning soap. However don’t get cleaning soap within the wound. And don’t use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which will be irritating. Take away any grime or particles with tweezers cleaned with alcohol. See a health care provider if you happen to can’t take away all particles.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly, rigorously. You need to maintain the pores and skin on both facet of the wound dry so the adhesive tape will stick with the pores and skin. Apply a skinny layer of antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to maintain the wound space moist and assist forestall scarring. Sure elements in some ointments could cause a gentle rash in some individuals. If a rash seems, cease utilizing the ointment.
- Apply the butterfly bandage by gently urgent one of many wings onto the dry pores and skin on one facet of the wound. Gently pull it in the direction of the pores and skin reverse the primary wing to carry the wound closed and press down gently on the pores and skin.
- Cowl the wound. Apply a traditional bandage, rolled gauze, or gauze held in place with tape. Protecting the wound retains it clear.
- Change the outer dressing. Do that at the very least as soon as a day or at any time when the bandage turns into moist or soiled, however depart the butterfly bandages in place. You’ll be able to apply extra topical antiseptic onto the wound and over the skinny strips of the butterfly whereas the butterfly continues to be in place.
- In case you really feel the necessity to exchange a butterfly bandage, take away one tab from one facet gently pulling in the direction of the wound till you attain the minimize. You then seize the opposite finish of the butterfly and pull that lightly in the direction of the wound. You don’t need to tear the wound open whereas eradicating the previous butterfly bandage.
- Apply a brand new butterfly the identical manner you utilized the unique one and redress the wound with antibiotic ointment and outer cowl bandage.
- Get a tetanus shot if you happen to haven’t had one up to now 5 years and the wound is deep or soiled.
- Look ahead to indicators of an infection. See a health care provider if you happen to see indicators of an infection on the pores and skin or close to the wound, corresponding to redness, growing ache, drainage, heat, or swelling.
Options to Butterfly Bandages
The apparent various to butterfly bandages is stitches, nevertheless it’s not one thing most individuals can do at residence. In case you’re so inclined, there are suture kits you should purchase on-line and even coaching or suture follow kits for these steely-eyed, residence surgeons. One factor they by no means cowl when speaking about or promoting residence suture kits is the shortage of any injected ache killers to take the sting off of residence suturing.
Some higher alternate options have popped up not too long ago, however make sure to learn any product description rigorously so that you clearly perceive their supposed utilization.
Tissue Adhesive
Consider it like tremendous glue for cuts. One of many merchandise out there’s referred to as Surgi-Lock Prompt Tissue Adhesive. Many of those merchandise have been developed for veterinarians, however they’re sterile and will work in a dire emergency.
One other tissue adhesive known as Mastisol, though the producer states that it was designed to make sure the integrity of dressing, tapes, and sure gadgets over an prolonged time period.
Suture Strips
Butterfly bandages with out the wings. These are skinny strips of extremely adhesive, versatile tape designed for use as a butterfly bandage or together to shut lengthy cuts. The power of the adhesive on the tape makes the massive wing of an ordinary butterfly bandage pointless. A preferred model known as Eurosuture.
Butterflies by the Field
You don’t must do-it-yourself. You should buy a field of butterfly bandages and simply toss them within the first help equipment. There are additionally butterfly bandage variations that you should use in your palm, fingers, and knuckles.
Wound Care is Critical Stuff
Even the smallest minimize can result in an infection, and deep cuts that require stitches or butterfly bandages enhance the chance. Don’t assume that merely utilizing a butterfly bandage solves all issues. It’s merely designed to shut a wound to assist it heal and forestall important scarring. Ensure you observe the entire different steps associated to wound care and remedy earlier than utilizing a butterfly bandage.
Like this submit? Don’t neglect to Pin It On Pinterest!
