How to Buy Bandages

When preparing a home first aid kit, one of the items ranking high on the list of both utility and importance are bandages. With the ever greater threat of infection from various types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, virtually every wound--even seemingly minor scrapes--should be covered with a dressing. This means that your supply of bandages should be ample. It also means it should be varied enough to take care of all sorts of wounds. Here are some tips for compiling your collection of bandages.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Begin with 3 boxes of bandages. The best bandages are those made of a flexible fabric. These are more durable and conform better to the skin.
2. Divide your supply into various configurations--small strips, larger strips and patches. Buying bandages that come in a mix of shapes isn't advisable because you will always end up with a supply of left-over types you don't need and a shortage of those you do.
3. Buy 2 medium-sized rolls of flexible 2-inch gauze. The flexible gauze may be used to wrap a variety of wounds, and it also my be pulled tight to apply pressure if needed.
4. Add a large box of 4x4-inch gauze pads. These need not be of high quality because their greatest use is in cleaning wounds or applying pressure to stop bleeding.
5. Pick out large and small no-stick dressing. Telfa is a brand name that has become synonymous with these dressings, though it is more expensive. The individually packaged dressings are best since they should be sterile when applied to open wounds like burns.
6. Finish your kit of bandages with those used to wrap larger injuries. The gauze used for this purpose is called bulky/flexible but has become known by its brand name "Kling." Add a 2-inch-wide Ace bandage to the kit.
7. Make sure that you have 1-inch adhesive tape in your kit. It should be replaced about once a year because it tends to dry out.