Surgical Tape and Its Many Uses |
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Surgical Tape, also referred to as medical tape, is one of the most commonly used disposable medical supplies on the market today. It is used by physicians of all specialties, and even has some surprising non-medical uses as well. Its primary uses are to hold bandages in place on wounds or surgical incisions, so that the wounds can be protected from infection while they heal. The bandages help keep out bacteria and other pathogens which could cause dangerous, potentially deadly infections, and the surgical tape holds the bandages in place. Surgical tape is specifically designed to be breathable, so that air can circulate around the wound, which speeds healing. Surgical tape that is infused with zinc oxide can be used to speed healing; a surgeon or physician will decide when that’s the best type to use. This type of tape should be a staple in everybody’s emergency first aid kit, and should be stored in a clean and sterile fashion until it is ready for use. It is designed so that it can be cut and trimmed, which makes it ideal for use on wounds of all sizes and shapes on the body. It is not just used on traditional square bandages on easy to apply locations like the torso or back; it can be used on fingers, knees, shoulders, the face, the scalp, and anywhere else that it is needed. Surgeons are now exploring the use of certain types of surgical tape in place of sutures; in these cases, they close the wound with specially designed tape, rather than using sutures, and they have found that this reduces the risk of superficial skin infections. Not all wounds or incisions can benefit from this treatment, but it is providing an intriguing alternative to the traditional use of sutures in some case. Medical tape, or surgical tape, is designed so that it is easy to remove and does not leave much, if any, residue behind when it is removed. And in fact, this is the reason why surgical tape is used in surprising ways - as wrapping on various sports sticks such as lacrosse sticks, baseball bats, and hockey sticks. Why? Because it is sturdy, high quality, and stays put where it is supposed to - until it is removed, and then, it leaves behind little to no residue, so the user does not have to spend a lot of time scraping away at sticky tape glue. It’s most common uses, of course, are still in medical settings, whether it be in a home first aid kid or a surgeon’s or physician’s practice. |
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