Exerpt: How To Anchor Roller Gauze. From the Gold Cross Magazine CEU Article "Bandaging: The Neglected Skill"  By, Paula Weiler.

Download the entire article "Bandaging: The Neglected Skill"

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Anchoring and Tying Off A Roller Gauze Bandage.                  When applying roller gauze the bandage should be anchored to prevent slipping during the application process. Apply the roller gauze slightly distal to the dressing and make a complete wrap around the limb folding an inner corner back onto itself. Then wrap around the limb again, covering that folded corner which helps to stabilize and anchor the bandage in place (see figure 1).

Continue to wrap around the limb moving proximally until the dressing is completely covered. When complete the bandage can be tied off one of three ways:

1. Use a piece of tape to secure the end of the roller gauze in place,
2. Use a pair of scissors to cut the end of the roller gauze in half lengthwise and tie the ends around the limb securing the bandage.
3. Make a backwards wrap of the roller gauze forming two loose ends which can then be tied around the limb securing the bandage.

Applying A Roller Gauze Bandage
Roller gauze bandages are frequently used on extremities because of their ease in wrapping the limb and holding the dressing in place. After anchoring the roller gauze bandage it is applied in a spiral motion around the limb, moving from the distal end of the injury to the proximal end of  the injury (see figure 1) and then tied off.

Conforming roller gauze bandages, such as Kling®, are easily applied because the bandage material ‘sticks’ to itself.

Non-conforming gauze bandages require more attention and skill as the material ‘gaps’ and must be applied using a spiral reverse method. (See figure 2)

(Figure 1) The key in the photo below is in slides 2 and 3. Notice in 2, how the corner edge is left out and folded over. Then, in 3, you wrap around it to anchor it. 

(Figure 2) Using non-conforming gauze bandages and wrapping it over itself.