Has anyone tried Tegaderm bandages?

[vibramhead]

These look like a pretty cool innovation for a first aid kit, if a bit expensive. Anyone tried them?

[Grannyhiker]

Highly recommended in my Wilderness First Aid class. Clean the wound thoroughly, put on a very thin layer of antibiotic ointment, then the Tegaderm bandage. You don't need to remove it and you can check for infection several times daily. Also very thin and light.

I found them in the local Walgreen's.

[roadtripmom]

I use these at work (ER) for skin tears on elderly folks. You can't stitch them because the skin is too fragile, but it keeps the torn skin in place over the wound so it can heal. Do not place a Tegaderm over an actively bleeding wound. Hold pressure with gauze until the bleeding is controlled then place the Tegaderm over the wound. They work really well !

[vibramhead]

Much thanks, Granny & Roadtrip!

[renegadepilgrim]

They're good on certain parts of the body...otherwise, completely useless as they don't stick very well. Any moving body part, I find they don't last very long (I use them when I have a paper cut or other wound open on my fingers or hands while at work). I also use them sometimes at work on my patients (also in the ER) but find there are other effective ways to dress a wound. What exactly were you thinking of using Tegaderm for?

Some of my favorite wound care stuff is: Mefix Tape (great for blister prevention on hotspots), Xeroform (abx infused gauze), Adaptic (non-stick gauze, great for road rash/abrasions), Telfa pads (non-stick gauze pads), Mepilex pads (super absorbant, great for infected wounds or really bad blisters)....I could go on. I worked in a Chronic Wound Care Clinic and love some of the technology out there...that being said, I carry minimal amounts of things in my pack for a FA kit. Like I've said before, if it can't be fixed with duct tape and a maxi pad, I can't help you...

[vibramhead]

What exactly were you thinking of using Tegaderm for?

I didn't have anything in particular in mind. Just thought I might throw a couple in my first aid kit, but it doesn't sound like they're worth going out of my way to find. Thanks for the alternative suggestions.