Subsequently, many unfortunate cases have been reported where the patients have suffered due to the mishandling of medical tapes by the nurses. For instance, if the patients who have cancer or other serious diseases encounter cases of skin injury or infection due to mistreated removal of the medical tape, they may have to postpone their operation or chemotherapy session since this will not only be risky for their physical health but will also harm their mental health. Therefore, it’s better if patients and nurses both understand how to use the medical tape properly. Read this guide to understand everything about the medical tape and medical tape slitting machines.
Even in the category of medical tape, there are a few subcategories based on the different materials of the tape. Subsequently, there are five main types of medical tapes; these have various functions and consist of cotton, elastic, plastic, paper, and cloth. Firstly, the micropore paper tape is used for bandaging and dressing wounds with the hypoallergenic feature that allows the skin to stay irritation-free. Secondly, the transpore polyethylene tape consists of a strong, non-stretchable film used to dress tubes and wet skin surfaces. Thirdly, the zinc oxide tape is highly durable and mainly used to prevent sports injuries, and allows athletes to run, bend, twist, and push their physical limits. The fourth type is waterproof tape that is highly flexible and malleable and allows dry skin injuries to stay safe even in water. Lastly, the durable cloth tape is highly comfortable and durable and comes in handy for long-term bandages and dressing.
A medical adhesive tape is a medicated tape used for medical purposes like bandaging, holding tubes attached to the skin, and other surgical dressing. Subsequently, the medical tape slitting machines help manufacture tapes in different widths and sizes by applying material slitting techniques to cut the larger rolls into smaller ones as different medical injuries require varied medical tapes. Moreover, these slitting equipment have three essential functional parts that are advanced to produce the medical tapes according to diverse specifications.
The hospital management and patients should understand that not all tapes are suitable for dressing every wound since it depends on an individual’s injury or surgical cuts. Therefore, you should always consider some factors before selecting a particular type of medical tape. Firstly, you need to keep in mind the primary purpose of the tape; either you want to use a gentle tape for applying on bandages, or a highly adhesive one to secure the critical or non-critical tubes or devices attached to your skin. Secondly, your tape type will depend on the anticipated wear time; either you want plastic tape for short-term use or paper or cloth tape for long-term dressing.
Thirdly, you can use stretchable or flexible tape for the sensitive skin above the joints to prevent risks of skin damage. Subsequently, extreme weather conditions also require special medicated tapes since bad weather can damage skin more quickly due to humidity, moisture, perspiration, exudate, etc. Lastly, it’s better to use various medicated tapes considering a patient’s age, race, health condition, skin allergy, and other personal adhesion.
A medical tape is equally important as any other medical equipment in the hospital since it has several significant features. The main reason is that it helps you prevent skin rash, skin infections, and other skin diseases while covering your injuries and preventing them from getting exposed to microorganisms, viruses, dust, smoke, harmful air, and chemical pollutants. Not only that, but it also holds the heavy medical equipment and tubes inserted in your veins and other body parts, after any painful surgery or for getting a simple drip.
Different medical emergencies call for particular types of medicated tapes with preventive measures. Keeping in mind the intensity of your injury, you should choose a dependable medical tape that is easy to tear, versatile, durable, and has high adhesive properties that can allow you to safeguard your injuries. In addition, your skin type will play a significant role in deciding the kind of medical tape that suits you the most.