2022 "Pharmaceutical Popular Science Works" Essay Exhibition | Band-Aids, are you using them correctly?

What is a Band-Aid?

Speaking of Band-Aid, we have to start with its originator. The world's first Band-Aid was called "Band-Aid", which is a first aid bandage, which is translated as "Band-Aid". It is composed of waterproof and breathable tape, adhesive, non-woven absorbent pad, benzalkonium chloride and PE isolation film. The main ingredient is benzalkonium chloride, which has a disinfecting effect. With the development of the industry, there are now a wide variety of Band-Aids on the market.

However, Band-Aids do not have an anti-inflammatory effect. They can only be used to stop bleeding and protect wounds. If used improperly, they may cause wound infection and even the risk of amputation.

Which wounds are suitable for plastering and which wounds are not suitable for plastering?

Band-Aids are suitable for small superficial wounds, especially those with neat, clean incisions, little bleeding, and no need for sutures, such as knife cuts, glass scratches, etc.

"Burns, contamination, animal bites, boils, allergies, minor abrasions", remember, these types of wounds are not suitable for Band-Aids. Because when a burn occurs, the wound is ulcerated and has secretions, and applying a Band-Aid is not conducive to wound healing; when the wound is contaminated, it must be cleaned and disinfected before applying the Band-Aid; and animal bites must be vaccinated in a timely manner; applying a Band-Aid to a boil on the skin is not conducive to the drainage of pus and will aggravate the infection; people who are allergic to adhesive tapes are prone to small blisters when using a Band-Aid; minor abrasions on skin with slightly damaged epidermis do not need to be applied with a Band-Aid. In addition, small and deep wounds should not be applied. If a Band-Aid that is not very breathable is used on such wounds, it is more likely to cause the reproduction of anaerobic bacteria such as tetanus bacilli.

Things to keep in mind:

First clean the wound, then disinfect, and then apply the patch. When applying the patch, aim the patch at the wound, and apply slight pressure on both sides of the wound after applying.

Do not bandage too tightly, otherwise the wound will not be breathable and may easily cause local ischemia.

Do not expose to water. Even waterproof band-aids are not 100% waterproof.

Replace it in time. It should be replaced 1-2 times a day, and the total use time should not exceed 2-3 days. Pay attention to the changes of the wound when changing it. If the wound becomes red, swollen, hot or painful, seek medical attention in time.

When you want to use the Band-Aid on fingers and joints, you can make a special-shaped bandage yourself: cut the bandage along the midline (be careful not to touch the medicated absorbent pad) until two small wings appear. When using it on non-joints, the medicated side faces the wound, the upper two small wings are pasted downward, and the lower two small wings are pasted parallel; when using it on joints, the upper and lower small wings are pasted upward and downward respectively.

Author: Zhou Tiantian, Second People's Hospital of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province

Reviewer: Liu Guiyang, Chief Pharmacist of the Pharmacy and Pharmacology Department of the Fourth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital

This article is an excellent work in the text group