ER: Lesson 2- Types of Bandages

A bandage is a piece of material used to support a dressing or splint, to provide protection to a wound or to restrict the movement of a part of
the body. Other bandages are used without dressings, such as elastic bandages that are used to reduce swelling or provide more stringent
support. These tight bandages can be used to slow blood flow to an extremity, such as when a limb is bleeding heavily. Bandages can often
be improvised, as the situation demands, using clothing, blankets or other material and are placed using three layers of dressing. Only a
trained individual should place a bandage on a pet. Bandages that are placed too tight or too lose can sometimes cause more damage than the
injury itself.

Splint- a device used for support or immobilization of a limb. It can be used in multiple situations, including temporary immobilization of potentially broken bones or damaged joints.

Sling- a style of bandage used in dogs and cats that holds the foreleg or hind leg in flexion with the hip in abduction and internal rotation
or holds up the abdominal area so the animal can be moved. This holds the body part up so that the animal does not put weight on it  potentially damaging the injured limb further. The Sling is a very useful bandage. If a sling is applied incorrectly on a limb, blood supply to the limb can be compromised leading to serious consequences.