A wound should be cleaned first and covered with a protective dressing. The main purpose of dressing is to:

(1) prevent infection,

(2) control bleeding,

(3) absorb any discharge, and

(4) reduce further injury.

The main types of first aid dressing for surface wounds are sterile adhesive pads such as 'Band-Aid', and the prepared standard gauze dressings covered with a pad of cotton wool which are supplied sealed in paper or plastic covers to keep them sterile.

'Bandaging' is a skill which is only obtained by practice, and it is outside the scope of this course to turn you into a bandaging expert. However, it is necessary for you to know the essentials about the use of first aid dressings.