The Best Medical Tapes and Wraps for TEOTWAWKI

One of the things that I have found intimidating about learning about medicine and the essential medical supplies is simply not knowing anything. See, medical personnel know their stuff pretty well, but they then talk about it as if we completely understand all their jargon. And the rest of us laypeople don't even know what we don't know, so we can't ask intelligent questions. And if you don't have a lot of experience with illnesses and injuries, you've had even less exposure than others and are at more of a loss. Did that make any sense?

I was raised in a family of rather non-adventurous girls. We never broke a bone or needed stitches. My kindergarten-aged sister did a faceplant into the side of a sandbox that caused a massive bruise and swelling on her forehead. That's about the extent of our injuries. I had never even heard of triple antibiotic--or any antibiotic--cream until I was married. I'd never heard of Coban or Vet-Wrap until our dog needed it about five years ago. And yet, both of these are items we should have in any basic first-aid kit. So I figured today I'd cover medical tapes and wraps to consider adding to your supplies.

TAPES

Transpore medical tape. I absolutely love this tape. Read the reviews on Amazon to get more information from medical personnel, but for starters, this tape is the best. It adheres very well, it's clear, and it tears so easily in both directions, even for me with diminished finger strength. We've been using this with the rabbit and 1/2" is way too wide for what we need to do. But those strips can cleanly be torn into four or five strips. It's waterproof, yet it also breathes to let sweat out and air in. It is the strongest for adhering to skin. It can be used to prevent chafing and as a butterfly stitch to close minor cuts. I love this tape so much that I was afraid to check what it would cost, sure that the price would be outrageous. (Supplies for diabetes management usually are, and this was something my husband was no longer using.) I was thrilled to find it on Amazon, one of the few items I've found that is substantially cheaper there than at ShopMedVet.com. Transpore does leave a sticky residue and can irritate sensitive skin. You wouldn't want to use this for daily bandage changes. And I wouldn't use it for securing a SAM splint unless you had no alternative, because it will rip the foam off the splint. Number of rolls to stockpile (for a family of four): four.

Nexcare waterproof tape. This absolutely waterproof tape adheres very well to the skin. It's very flexible, making it the tape of choice for areas like under armpits and between fingers and toes. It doesn't stick well to hair, which is good for sensitive skin or daily bandage changes, but not so good if it needs to stick to hairy skin. It is easy to tear across, but not into lengthwise strips, and it leaves no sticky residue behind. Number of rolls to stockpile: one.

Paper tape is gentle on the skin. It is not as sticky as the previous two and is inexpensive, so it's what you want for daily dressing changes and sensitive skin. It will not work for situations involving heavy exercise, irregular areas of the body, or blisters or chafing. Number of rolls to stockpile: two.

Cloth tape (I prefer silk), 2-3" wide, has a lot of applications, but the most critical, especially for our purposes, is for taping sprained ankles. A badly sprained ankle can be taped so well and so securely that the patient will be able to walk if necessary. Of course, it is far, far better to rest that ankle and let others do the work, but in some situations, that may not be an option. Ace bandages absolutely will not substitute for good cloth tape and a good taping job. Number of rolls to stockpile: three.

Duct tape is obviously not designed for medical applications, but it's a favorite for emergency medical kits. Wider rolls are used in splinting limbs and wrapping bandages in place when other tapes just won't work. You can also get mini rolls of duct tape (Duck Tape brand "ducklings") for smaller applications and smaller kits. Number of regular duct tape rolls to stockpile for the emergency kit: one.

 WRAPS

Coban is used for wrapping fingers and limbs and holding bandages in place. Because it is self-adherent, no pins are needed. It is made of non-woven polyester so that it is elastic and conforms well to the body and lets the skin breathe. 

Vet-Wrap is designed for animals, but there's no good reason not to use it for people, especially when it's so much cheaper. It's the same stuff as Coban. Number of rolls to stockpile: five. 

The self-adherent wraps are nice because they don't require pins and do a pretty good job staying in place. I've never used Coban, but we have used Vet-Wrap on the dogs and one rabbit. Of course, on the animals we are concerned about them being active, so we also use a little duct tape just to be sure. Lately, at the grocery outlet stores around here, they've had their own cheap knock-off version of Coban. I bought several rolls--you can't go too far wrong at 99 cents--and put them in with the other supplies.

We decided to try it out on the rabbit. And initially, I was not at all impressed. Actually, I was more irritated to think I had wasted some money. It wasn't very sticky, but we used it on the rabbit anyway. And when we removed that knock-off Coban at the next dressing change, my attitude towards it did a one-eighty. Why? Because it wasn't as sticky. It was so much easier to change that dressing. I think this is because the rabbit is active and jumping around and using his foot all the time, and the Vet Wrap gradually compresses and becomes more adhered to itself. Because the knock-off isn't as sticky to begin with, it is easier to remove. I think the same might be true with active children. So now I'm happy that I got it and plan to get a few more rolls. I wouldn't plan on it as a substitute for Coban or Vet-Wrap, but more as a supplement for situations where stickiness is not essential.

Ace bandages, one each of 2", 3", and 4", provide support for joints, reduce swelling, and comfortably hold dressings in place. These are for your family, nobody else. 

To go along with these, you'll also want bandage scissors for removing bandages. These have a curved tip on the bottom so that you don't risk injuring your patient. I also have a Klever Kutter (actually ten, they were pretty cheap that way). I have really loved this. It was a lifesaver in trying to remove the bunny's bandages without hurting him. I would rather have this for dealing with a wiggly child or other difficult-to-manage patient. In case you're interested, click on the link below for the review.

Links to related posts:
Wound Dressings
Sutures
Klever Kutter  

For more information on tapes:
https://insidefirstaid.com/first-aid-kit/medical-tape-buy-the-right-kind