Whether you're treating patients in a health care facility or covering minor scrapes at home, the right bandages, dressings and ointments can help speed the healing process. You can choose from a wide range of products for home and medical use, from tiny wound-closure strips to full-coverage trauma pads.

Bandages for Quick Care

You can take care of small cuts and wounds quickly with adhesive bandages. Each one features a gauze pad that covers the injury, helping keep out dirt and moisture. Choose specialty shapes to provide a secure fit on fingers and knuckles, or you can use round bandages to cover blisters or small punctures. For children, bandages in bright colors and fun prints can help make wound care less intimidating. Waterproof products can stay put in the shower or pool, and extra-tough models are designed to withstand wear in high-friction areas such as the back of the heel. If you're dealing with larger wounds or advanced treatment, choose bandages that are designed to hold gauze pads of dressings in place. You can select from small boxes and large packs to stock your medicine cabinet, office first aid kit or medical supply room.

Sponges Absorb and Cushion

You can tackle the first aid care process with versatile gauze sponges and pads. Thick pads can absorb blood and bodily fluids, making it easier to assess the wound. They can also serve as cushioning, particularly for wounds in places that are prone to impact. When you're treating open wounds with a high risk of infection, sterile pads can help prevent contamination. Non-sterile pads are useful for cleaning and debriding low-risk areas

User-Friendly Medical Tape

You can prevent dressings and bandages from slipping with reliable medical tape. Most tapes tear easily, so you can remove a length without scissors. When you're caring for wounds in flexible areas such as the elbow, use flexible tape that can stretch with the person. Many medical tapes use hypoallergenic adhesives to help reduce the risk of skin irritation. When it's time to remove a dressing, the adhesive is formulated to lift off gently and without pain. You can select from cloth or woven tape for general-purpose use, or use waterproof tape to keep dressings in place when the wearer gets wet.

Protective, Cleansing Ointments

You can help prevent infection in open wounds with antibiotic ointments. Each one uses ingredients such as bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate or polymyxin B sulfate to help shield the wound from contaminants and bacteria. Boxes of individually wrapped ointment packets can allow fast dispensing and easy cleanup in a health care setting. For home use, choose easy-apply tubes that can fit into your medicine cabinet. Alcohol cleansing pads are designed to remove dirt and germs before you dress a wound, while burn ointment helps soothe and treat heat-damaged skin.

Dressings for Advanced Care

You can stock your medicine cabinet or supply room with dressings that are designed for custom coverage. Dry dressings, including lightweight gauze rolls that can offer a soft layer of protection between a wound and the outside world. Many feature loose weaves to encourage airflow and aerate the wound. Some dressings are coated with substances such as zinc oxide to assist in the management of superficial skin conditions. You can select from a wide variety of dressing types for targeted wound care, including hydrocolloid pads, foam dressings, tapeless anoperineal products and abdominal pads.