Open tissue needs protection while it heals. A bandage is a strip or piece of material used to cover, support, or compress a wound or injured part of the body.

Simple gauze pads absorb exudate; elastic bandages provide compression; tubular and cohesive wraps hold dressings in place. Proper application controls bleeding, reduces swelling, and keeps contaminants out without cutting off circulation. Too tight a bandage causes pain and ischemia; too loose a bandage fails to protect.

First-aid training emphasizes checking color, sensation, and movement of fingers or toes after bandaging a limb. Modern dressings sometimes combine absorbent layers with adhesive borders, yet the basic principles of coverage and compression remain unchanged. Changing bandages at appropriate intervals prevents maceration and allows wound inspection.

• Material used to cover or support an injury
• Controls bleeding, protects tissue, and reduces swelling
• Must avoid excessive tightness
• Changed regularly to allow inspection and healing