What is gauze?

Medical gauze is a type of woven cloth that is generally used for wound care to protect wounds, absorb exudate, and cushion the wound. There are many different types of gauze that serve specific first aid purposes. These include sterile and non-sterile gauze sponges, non-woven gauze, and gauze wraps.

What is medical gauze used for?

There are several uses for gauze wound dressings. Sterile gauze pads are great for absorbing fluid from wounds, as well as prepping wounds and surgical sites. Non-sterile gauze is ideal for cushioning bruised areas of the body.

Additional Information

Sterile Gauze

Sterile gauze is individually wrapped and is specially treated to resist bacteria. These properties make sterile gauze ideal for use on open wounds that are vulnerable to infection.

Non-Sterile Gauze

Non-sterile gauze is more suitable for use on closed wounds that are not infected. Non-sterile gauze tends to be less expensive than sterile gauze.

Non-Woven Gauze

Non-woven gauze is made from fibers that are pressed, rather than being woven together. This forms a tighter material, which increases absorbency. The non-woven pattern also tends to produce less lint than traditional woven gauze. Non-woven gauze sponges are ideal for use as a primary dressing that comes into direct contact with your wound because it’s highly absorbent.

Woven Gauze

Woven gauze is made from cotton fibers that are woven loosely. Mainly used as a second dressing rather than a primary because it more likely to produce lint and is less absorbent. Used for applications that require coverage and breathability rather than absorption.

Gauze Wraps

Gauze wraps, also called gauze rolls or gauze bandage rolls, come in long sheets that can be cut to the length you need. They are designed to wrap around body parts such as arms, legs, and the abdomen. Gauze rolls are kept in place with adhesive medical tape. This type of gauze is not very absorbent, so it is not typically used directly on wounds. Instead, it is used as a secondary dressing to hold primary dressings in place.

Order supplies for applying medical gauze

When applying medical gauze, ensure the wound is both clean and dry. The type of gauze you use will depend on whether or not you’re packing a wound. As we discussed earlier, for a deep wound you want sterile, non woven gauze to protect the wound from infection. You will also need the following supplies:

• Sterile Gloves
• Swabs
• Antibacterial ointment
• Hand sanitizer

Having these supplies on hand will help minimize pain, infection and any other potential illness. Ensure that you don’t touch any other non sterile surface before administering aid to avoid cross contamination.

Please visit our blog for additional information on the different types of gauze or shop our extensive collection of first aid supplies to keep your wounds clean and cared for.