to slip after it is in place, the dressing is no longer sterile. Should an emergency arise when a sterile dressing is not available, the cleanest cloth at hand may be used—a freshly laundered handkerchief, towel, or shirt, for instance. Unfold these materials carefully so that you do not touch the part that goes next to the skin. Always be ready to improvise when necessary, but never put materials directly in contact with wounds if those materials are likely to stick to the wound, leave lint, or be difficult to remove. DEFINITION OF A BANDAGE Standard bandages are made of gauze or muslin and are used over a sterile dressing to secure the dressing in place, to close off its edge from dirt and germs, and to create pressure on the wound and control bleeding. A bandage can also support an injured part or secure a splint. The most common types of bandages are the roller and triangular bandages. Roller Bandage The roller bandage, shown in figure 3–2, consists of a long strip of material (usually gauze, muslin, or elastic) that is wound into a cylindrical shape. Roller bandages come in various widths and lengths. Most of the roller bandages in the first aid kits have been sterilized, so pieces may be cut off and used as compresses in direct contact with wounds. If you use a piece of roller bandage in this manner, you must be careful not to touch it with your hands or with any other unsterile object. GENERAL APPLICATION.—In applying a roller bandage, hold the roll in the right hand so that the loose end is on the bottom; the outside surface of the loose or initial end is next applied to and held on the body part by the left hand. The roll is then passed around the body part by the right hand, which controls the tension and application of the bandage. Two or three of the initial turns of a roller bandage should overlie each other to properly secure the bandage (see figure 3–3). In applying the turns of the bandage, it is often necessary to transfer the roll from one hand to the 3-3 AMBULANCE EMERGENCY BAG CONTENTS Regular drip IV tubing Ambu bag Syrup of Ipecac Mini drip IV tubing Trach adaptor Ace^® wrap IV extension tubing Suction tubing Klings^® 19-gauge butterflies Straight & Y-connector Arm slings 18-gauge Medicut® Toomey syringe Safety pins 16-gauge Medicut® 10cc syringe Tongue blades Tourniquet 20-gauge needles Tape Adult oxygen mask Alcohol swabs Stethoscope Nasal cannula Examination gloves 4 x 4’s Oxygen tubing Sodium Chloride ampules Lubricant Airways (various sizes) Ammonia ampules Grease pencil Table 3-2.—Ambulance Emergency Bag Contents UNIT ONE BAG CONTENTS One roll wire fabric, 5" x 36" One tourniquet Two bottles of aspirin, 324 mg, 100s One pair scissors, bandage Three packages of morphine inj., 1/4 g, 5s Six packages of plastic strip bandages, 6s One bottle tetracaine hydrochloride ophthalmic sol. Three bottles povidone-iodine solution, 1/2 fl oz One airway, plastic, adult/ child One thermometer, oral Two packages atropine inj., 12s One card of safety pins, medium, 12s Two muslin triangular bandages Two books field medical cards Two medium battle dressings, 7 1/4" x 8" One surgical instrument set, minor surgery Eight small battle dressings 4" x 7" One pencil, black lead, mechanical One roll adhesive tape, 3 in x 5 yds Two packages gauze, rolled, 3 in x 5 yds Table 3–3.—Unit One Bag Contents Figure 3–1.—Commonly used styles of dressings.