Treating Fractures in the Field
Lesson 6: Roller Bandages
6-10
6-10. MONITOR A CASUALTY WITH A WRAPPED LIMB
After you have wrapped a casualty's limb with an elastic bandage, monitor the limb.
a. Check for Impaired Circulation. Even if the circulation was not impaired when you finished the wrap, pressure caused by swelling (edema and/or internal bleeding) may result in impaired circulation. If impaired circulation is discovered, loosen and apply the wrap again.
(1) Check the pulse.
(2) Perform the blanch test.
(3) Ask the casualty about numbness, tingling, or cold sensationsin the limb.
(4) Observe the skin below the bandage wrap for discoloration.
b. Check for Skin Irritation. Check for rubbing or wrinkles in the bandages. Correct the source of the irritation. If the bandage is removed, check the wrapped area for redness and sores.
