Bandage wrap is the roll of material used to cover a wound. The wrap can come in different types of materials, from elastic to gauze-type wraps. The roll of bandage wrap allows a nurse or doctor to cover a wound neatly and completely, and serves as an easily removed bandage. Most first-aid kits contain a roll of bandage wrap.
Often a wound is dressed with a sterile square gauze pad that is then covered up with a bandage wrap. The wrap keeps the sterile pad located on the wound and ensures that it will not move around. Often stretchy elastic bandages are used as a final covering due in part to the ease in which they are applied. The elastic also makes it easy to change bandages when the patient arrives back home and has to do it his or herself.
Bandage wrap can also come in many forms, from sterile wrapping to one-time disposable wrapping. The wraps can be held in place with tape or metal clips. Many of the bandage wraps are reusable and can be sterilized and kept until needed again in a drawer or in a medicine chest. Often, the wrap may not cover a bandage, it may be the bandage.
In cases of sprained ankles or knees, a bandage wrap may be the only treatment. Wrapping the injured area tightly and keeping it immobilized may be the preferred treatment method. The patient can remove the wrap for bathing or sleeping and re-wrap the injured limb or joint when finished. Always making sure that the wrap is not so tight as to cut off blood circulation.
With wounds such as head wounds, a bandage wrap of non-sticky gauze may be used to prevent the hair from becoming stuck to the bandage. The wrap conforms perfectly to the roundness of the patient's head and creates a bandage that will not fall off or become loose. The wrap also allows a doctor to remove the bandage to examine and monitor the wound without disturbing it too much. The bandage roll is often the most comfortable for the patient as well.
A bandage wrap can often be sent home with a patient to dress a wound later. Due to its ease of application, the patient can dress a wound after swelling has gone down or after application of a cream or antibacterial ointment. In the case of a burn victim, the wrap can be applied loose to avoid injuring fresh skin grafts or causing more pain to the wound.