Standard Dressings vs Trauma Dressings

Most standard first aid kits contain basic dressings, usually in medium and large sizes. These dressings are made up of a simple bandage with an attached gauze pad. They are designed for minor to moderate wounds and are suitable for everyday first aid situations.

Standard First Aid Dressings

When you open a standard dressing, you will find:

• A fabric bandage
• A basic gauze pad attached at one end

The medium dressing is the most commonly used and opens out to cover small wounds effectively. The large dressing provides a slightly bigger pad for larger cuts.

While these dressings do work within established first aid guidelines, the pad itself is relatively thin and limited in absorbency. For small injuries, this is perfectly adequate. However, they are not designed for heavy or catastrophic bleeding.

If blood soaks through a standard dressing, guidance suggests applying another dressing on top. In reality, with serious trauma, this often leads to repeated soak-through because:

• The pad cannot absorb large volumes of blood
• The bandage does not provide enough pressure

Why Standard Dressings Are Not Enough for Trauma

In traumatic injuries, blood loss can be rapid and severe. Standard dressings simply cannot apply sufficient direct pressure or absorb enough blood to control life-threatening haemorrhage.

For these situations, you need something bigger, stronger, and far more effective.

Trauma Dressings Explained

Trauma dressings are specifically designed for severe and catastrophic bleeding. They are commonly found in bleed control kits rather than basic first aid kits.

Trauma dressings typically come in:

• Medium trauma dressings – for serious limb wounds
• Large trauma dressings – for major wounds or larger surface areas

Some trauma dressings are even larger, designed for massive injuries to areas such as the chest or abdomen.

Opening a Trauma Dressing

Trauma dressings are packaged to remain sterile and easy to deploy:

• An outer packet is opened first
• Inside is a second sterile package with a clear tear point
• Tear the inner packet open and remove the dressing

The Key Differences: Why Trauma Dressings Work

1. A Much Better Absorbent Pad

The most obvious difference is the pad:

• Significantly larger
• Much thicker
• Highly absorbent

Trauma dressing pads can absorb up to half a litre of blood without soaking through, making them vastly superior to standard gauze pads.

2. Elastic Bandage for Pressure

Another major advantage is the stretch in the bandage.

Standard dressings use relatively stiff bandages with very little stretch. Trauma dressings, however, are designed with high elasticity, allowing you to:

• Wrap the dressing tightly
• Apply strong, sustained direct pressure
• Maintain pressure during movement or transport

This makes trauma dressings far more effective for controlling bleeding when you cannot physically hold pressure on the wound.

Securing the Dressing

Most trauma dressings include a built-in securing clip.

To secure it:

• Wrap the bandage firmly around the wound
• Tuck the end underneath the layers
• Fasten the clip into place

This design means:

• No knots are required
• The dressing can be easily tightened or loosened
• Hospital staff can remove it without cutting

Where Trauma Dressings Should Be Used

Trauma dressings are an essential component of bleed kits and should be used whenever there is:

• Severe bleeding
• Deep or large wounds
• Traumatic injury

If your workplace or home only has standard first aid kits, it is worth adding trauma dressings. In a serious bleeding emergency, standard dressings are simply not enough.

Key Takeaway

Standard dressings are suitable for minor injuries.

Trauma dressings are essential for life-threatening bleeding.

Having trauma dressings available – and knowing how to use them – can make the difference between life and death.