How to Make a Butterfly Bandage

Knowing how to make a butterfly bandage can save you several trips to the doctor, or provide a remedy in an emergency. Just follow the instructions below to learn how to make a butterfly bandage.

Instructions

1. Check the size of the cut to make certain that it is not over 1 inch long. Larger cuts generally need to be seen by a doctor and may need stitches.

2. Clean the cut thoroughly and apply an antibiotic to it. The butterfly bandage is intended to hold the sides of the cut together to minimize scarring, so it is important that bacteria is not left to fester in the cut.

3. Make a butterfly bandage. Cut a section from either side of an adhesive bandage. The section should be flat at the top and angle outward, forming a triangle with a flat top. You should be left with a narrow part in the middle with wider outer edges that resemble a butterfly.

4. Apply one side of the butterfly bandage to the cut and gently tug until the edges of the cut meet line up. There should be enough pressure to close the cut properly, but not so much that the flesh curls inward. You may need several butterfly bandages to close a larger cut.