Physician Heal Thyself … For Everyone Else There’s ACE Elastic Bandage
Written: Apr 19 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, machine washable, inexpensive, a must have for any first aid kit.
Cons: Metal prongs bend and break easily, prongs can puncture, rip or scrape skin.
The Bottom Line: A first aid staple that no home should be without.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Ace Elastic Bandage |
When it comes to elastic bandages, there are more than a few styles, brands and sizes to choose from but ACE has always been the frontrunner in this house. Everything from minor sprains and injuries to patching up one of the animals can be accomplished with one of the Ace brand elastic bandages. Now, this doesn’t mean that you should self diagnose injuries but if you feel that medical attention isn’t necessary or you are dealing with a recurring situation, I have to highly recommend checking out this simply yet indispensable product. ACE is just one of several splinter companies that are owned and operated by Becton & Dickson [B&D], other well-known products include the professional or athletic lines Stardox and Tru-Fit, Bauer & Black and my favorite, ACE Kidz. Even if you aren’t familiar with all the different products that B&D manufacture, you are always guaranteed to get high quality products that will last for years. I have several different ACE bandages that see regular use after strength training and all but one are still in pristine condition. I’ve even used my trusty ACE bandages for non health related things like wrapping CD’s and video tapes before I mail them out, quick Halloween costumes for the wee people [the are great for making quick mummies] and while it may not look all that great, they work great to insulate coffee mugs on cold mornings.
ACE Elastic Bandage
I honestly consider this a true staple of any household and if you are stocking or creating a first aid kit, it wouldn’t be complete without a few of these. They are mainly used for sprains or minor muscle injuries to compress the area, keep swelling to a minimum and give some added support. They are also lifesavers for small kids that take a tumble and while they are fine physically still want a “comfort item” to make the boo boo go away a little quicker. If you’ve never used an elastic bandage before it is a pretty simple process to apply it but there are a few things that you need to remember about the bandage – never apply it to tightly that you lose feeling or sensation in the surrounding area, don’t apply it to areas that are weeping, oozing or have not been cleaned and dressed with a sterile bandage and lastly, seek medical attention if you have any tingling, quick swelling, lose sensation or see deep bruising [red, black or brown] rising from a wound. You should unwrap an injury every few hours to check on the skin color and try to move the effected area but not so much so that you strain it and negate the healing process that has already started. The correct size / width depends on the area that you are wrapping – for legs, thighs, shoulders or to keep an ice pack in place go with the larger six inch size. For wrists, ankles, elbows and children’s injuries you can use the two or three inch size. The monster size six inch ACE bandage is usually reserved for when I need to wear an ice pack on my lower back but can’t sit or lay down for more than a few minutes, the elastic bandage allows me to get up and move around without having to carry the ice pack or constantly have to rearrange the position of it.
Before one of my beloved dogs passed away, I used the larger six inch width bandage on his rear legs to give him a little more stability when he walked around. He was a large breed dog that was prone to arthritis and degenerative joint issues and his last few months were extremely trying. At the suggestion of our veterinarian I started wrapping his rear legs with the elastic bandages to give him a little more support when he walked around. It may not have looked pretty but it did allow him the freedom to get up and move around without falling over or losing control of his back legs. Other uses include wrapping the pipe under the kitchen sink when it started leaking until the plumber could arrive, keeping large bandaged areas covered when standard sized gauze pads needed to be taped and makeshift wrist wraps for weight lifting. So, there are a ton of uses outside of the usual “ouch, I sprained my wrist” norms … so if you thought you’d never need an elastic bandage are you now convinced that you simply can’t live without one? If not .. read on.
Selections
You can pick this up in several different styles with the most common being the newer version with Velcro. This makes it easier to apply the bandage if you are doing it by yourself but in my opinion doesn’t last as long as the standard plain Jane ones. The basic style comes with two attachment prongs that fasten the bandage once it has been wrapped around the effected area, while these do get lost easily I prefer this to the bandages that have them preattached to the material since you can replace them if the prongs break off or position them where you need closure protection. The sizes of the bandages range from two to six inches with several different styles being available for each width. It’s a good idea to have several different sizes on hand – lets face it, if you sprain your wrist you don’t want to be walking around with a six inch wide bandage wrapped around it … same goes for your thigh or shoulder – get a muscle ache there and try to wrap it with one of the small ones and you are in for a very frustrating albeit entertaining ordeal.
Bandage Care & Cleaning
If you purchase the basic bandage with the fasteners that are not attached, you can toss it in the washing machine on medium heat and tumble dry for a few minutes. Make sure you don’t dry it all the way or you run the risk of having it wrinkle which will make it harder to apply. If you opted to purchase one with the fasteners attached, you may want to cover them with some material or hand wash the bandage to prevent the metal prongs from ripping other clothing items or getting attached to the bandage and having it come out of the washer in a huge ball. I never use a fabric softener when I am washing my bandages, I don’t have extremely sensitive skin but have found that when I do use a dryer sheet I tend to get small rashes or pimples from the scent since the bandage is right against the skin for an extended period of time in which sweating can occur, the salt from the sweat combined with the scent or left over softener can set off a nasty allergic reaction in some people so it’s best to skip it all together. Storing you bandage is pretty simple, just roll it loosely and attach the clips at the end to keep it secure. I try to keep all the bandages in a large zipper style plastic bag so they are clean, dry and ready for use when needed.
The Bottom Line
ACE elastic bandages can be found at almost every drug, grocery and retail store with prices ranging from $1.99 to $8.99 depending on the size and style that you are purchasing. One important thing to keep in mind when looking for one of these is that they are not sterile so if you are treating an injury that is also accompanied by an open wound, you will need to dress it with gauze or a covering prior to applying the elastic bandage. While there are numerous companies that make these types of bandages, I usually always go with ACE / B&D because they last longer, are made of a high quality material and come in a wide variety or sizes and styles. If you are interested in learning more about ACE or the other products that B&D make and sell, you can visit their official website at: www.bd.com.
As always, thanks for the read!
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2004 Freak369
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Recommended:
Yes
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