Adhesive bandages
Adhesive bandages are an important part of the dressing material in various areas. They can be found in sports kits, first aid boxes and first aid kits. They are also part of the basic equipment of all doctors' surgeries and hospitals. They fulfil an important purpose: to quickly fix the bandage on an injury or wound. You can find more information about when adhesive bandages are used and how the models differ here.
What types of adhesive bandages are there?
Bandages come in a few different types: Permanently elastic bandages, longitudinally elastic adhesive bandages and inelastic adhesive bandages. They differ in their stretching capacity, their material and the purpose they are intended to fulfil.
Permanently elastic bandages
Bandages that are permanently elastic are used to provide light support for ligaments, muscles and joints. The bandages are not self-adhesive and are usually attached with a clip or tape. Thanks to their composition, they are washable and breathable and are used, for example, for light compression bandages and fixing splints. Permanently elastic bandages usually have a high cotton content.
Longitudinally elastic adhesive bandages
These types of adhesive bandages are, as the name suggests, longitudinally elastic, i.e. they can be stretched in length but not in width. This is why they provide more stability. Longitudinally elastic adhesive bandages are usually made of skin-friendly cotton, polyamide and a rubber adhesive compound. They are suitable for support and relief bandages, compression bandages and for attaching padding material.
Inelastic adhesive bandages
They are characterised by their high adhesive strength and their rigid material: Inelastic adhesive bandages. These bandages are mainly used for functional dressings and are used for injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Inelastic adhesive bandages are particularly strong and, thanks to their rubber adhesive, adhere to almost all surfaces.
What are adhesive bandages used for?
Adhesive bandages have many uses, they are mainly used to fix bandages. They are used
- As a pressure-relieving bandage
- As a support bandage
- To immobilise wounds
- For redressing malpositions and deformities
- As functional dressings for injuries
- For padding over plasters
What is the advantage of adhesive bandages?
Adhesive bandages are self-adhesive. This means that they make the fixation of bandages much easier. The bandages can be cut to an individual length and they can be used in a variety of ways. Clamps also serve as a fastener for a bandage, but they are nowhere near as durable as a good adhesive bandage. However, they do not only fix bandages, but also padding material or even cold packs can be fixed with the right adhesive bandage.