TRIANGULAR BANDAGES

Triangular Bandages
A First Aid Kit will typically contain triangular bandages which are large, triangular pieces of material, with two sides about 1 metre long, and the third about 1.4 metres. 

Triangular bandages can be used as:
        ·       Collar & Cuff Sling
        ·       St John Sling
        ·       Full Arm Sling
        ·       Broad Bandage
        ·       Narrow Bandage
        ·       Pad

Triangular bandages: Collar & Cuff Sling 
The collar and cuff sling is useful for a casualty with a fracture of the upper arm or an injured hand.

Triangular bandages: St John Sling
The St John sling is useful for a casualty with an injured shoulder, collar bone, hand or fingers.

It is the best sling for shoulder and collarbone injuries because it supports the whole arm and takes the weight of the arm off the injured shoulder or collar bone.  In the case of hand or finger injuries, it can be used to elevate the injured part.

Triangular bandages: Full Arm Sling 
The full arm sling is used to support an injured forearm or wrist.

It is the best sling for these injuries because it forms a comfortable cradle which spreads the weight of the forearm evenly along its whole length.  This prevents the damaged parts from pushing together or pulling apart as they would if the other slings were used.

Triangular bandages: Broad Bandage
A broad bandage is simply a triangular bandage which is folded and used to tie on splints and dressings. 

First, you fold it in half, point to base. 

Then you fold it in half again.

You now have a broad bandage. 

Triangular bandage: Narrow Bandage
A narrow bandage has one more fold than the broad bandage and is mainly used for the collar & cuff sling. 

First, you fold it in half, point to base. 

Then you fold it in half again to make a broad bandage. 

Then you fold it in half again.

You now have a narrow bandage. 

Triangular bandage: Pad
If you do not have a sterile pad in your First Aid Kit, you can use a triangular bandage as a pad.

First, you fold it in half, point to base. 

Then you fold it in half again to make a broad bandage. 

Then you fold it in half again.

You now have a narrow bandage. 

Then fold the two ends into the middle. 

Now fold both ends into the middle again. 

Fold what is left in half to make a pad.

When a triangular bandage is folded like this, it is easy to store it in a first aid kit.

You can also use it in this form if you need to control bleeding.