Search
St John Ambulance Home
Donate
- Home
- Get Advice
- How-to
- How to apply a dressing
Emergency advice
Applying a dressing:
- Wash hands
- Put on gloves
- Place dressing on top of the wound
- Secure with adhesive tape or a roller bandage.
When applying a dressing, always wear disposable gloves. Some dressings have a wound dressing and bandage attached.
What to do
How to apply a dressing with a bandage attached
-
Wash hands and put on disposable, non-latex gloves before touching a dressing or wound. We recommend using nitrile powder-free gloves for your first aid kit.
-
Unfold the dressing pad and lay it directly on top of the wound, keeping it in place by holding the bandage on each side. Make sure the dressing covers beyond the edge of the wound.
-
Wrap the short end of the bandage around the injured part to secure the dressing pad.
-
Wrap the longer end around the injured part, making sure all of the dressing pad is covered. Leave the short end hanging out.
-
Secure the bandage by tying the short and long ends together in a reef knot over the top of the pad to keep pressure on the wound.
-
Check their circulation. To do this, press a nail or skin beyond the wound for five seconds until it goes pale. If the colour doesn’t come back within two seconds, the bandage is too tight and you’ll need to loosen it. Keep checking their circulation every 10 minutes.
-
If blood comes through the dressing, remove it and reapply pressure with a new dressing or pad to control the bleeding. Once the bleed is under control, secure the dressing in place with the bandage, tying the knot over the wound to keep the pressure on.
How to apply a sterile pad or gauze
-
Wash hands and put on disposable, non-latex gloves before touching a dressing or wound.
-
Ensure the pad covers beyond the edge of the wound.
-
Hold the pad by the edges and place it directly on top of the wound.
- Never touch the part of the pad that will be in contact with the wound.
-
Secure the pad with adhesive tape or a roller bandage.
- Never wrap tape all the way around the injured part as this could reduce the blood flow. If you need to maintain pressure to control bleeding, use a roller bandage.
- If you have no pad or gauze available, you can use a clean, non-fluffy material such as a cloth.
Authorship
Clinically reviewed by Dr Lynn Thomas, MStJ, BSc, MBBS, MA, FRCP
Page last reviewed: 07 March 2024
More information about our clinical expertise
Browse our first aid products:
First aid dressings, bandages and tape
Shop now
Sterile and non-sterile swabs and wipes
Shop now
Our training courses:
First aid courses
View
Related first aid advice
Cuts and grazes
Cuts and grazes are common injuries that can usually be treated at home. Learn what to do.
Find Out More
Severe bleeding
When bleeding is severe, it can be dramatic and distressing. Find out what to do.
Find Out More
Severe bleeding in babies
Sometimes, babies that are crawling can cut themselves in a way that causes severe bleeding. Find out what to do.
Find Out More
You might also be interested in...
Item added to basket
${modalData.success}
${modalData.error}
Similar items below are AVAILABLE NOW as the item added to your basket is currently out of stock
${modalData.additionalMessage}
Close this window or Go to basket
Close
Log into your account
Close
There is an error with your details. Either your email address or password is not recognised.
Hi ${ email }, you successfully signed in!
Closing in ${ countDownSeconds } seconds.
You can now proceed to the checkout.
Close
Don't have an account?
Register here
Are you a National or Key Account customer? Log in at our major accounts portal.
Forgot your password?
We've sent you an email on how to re-set your password. Please follow the instructions.
Closing in ${ countDownSeconds } seconds.
${ error }
Enter your email address below and we will send you instructions on how to create a new password.
${ errors.first('email') }
Major Accounts
${ error }
Your email address is registered on our Major Accounts portal – to receive your agreed pricing for training courses please proceed to the portal.
