An outstretched hand holding a red camping first aid kit in front of foliage outside

First Aid 101: Using a Triangular Bandage

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3 min read

An understanding of basic first aid tactics can be the difference between proper recovery and a worsening injury. A triangular bandage is a very versatile component for a first aid kit – despite looking like a piece of scrap fabric. This step-by-step breakdown is here to help you feel more prepared for common injuries and how to use the tools in your first aid kit correctly and effectively. Remember, it's always better to know and not need it, than to need it and not know.

A blue mulit-day hiking backpack sitting on a rock in the mountains in front of a tent with a red first aid kit attached to the front of the pack

Be Safe, Be Prepared

Some trails have some gnarly tree roots and rocks that can trip you up if you’re not careful. It’s always important to go slow and use your hands for extra support when it’s needed, but accidents do happen – even to the most cautious of hikers. 

Before using a triangular bandage, be sure to properly assess the severity of the wound. Take time to control any bleeding and to cover the area with gauze (and if you packed it, apply antibiotic ointment to the affected area as well). This helps to prime the area before we wrap it up. 

Hand (With Fingers)

  1. Lay out the triangle bandage with the long side facing the person whose hand is being treated. Remember to apply gauze to the wound area before wrapping.
  2. Position the hand so there is about one to two inches of fabric that extends past their wrist. Their fingers should be facing the right angle of the fabric.
  3. Fold the right angle back over the hand, and while doing this, tuck the bandage underneath the hand on both sides. The bandage should no longer look like a triangle.
  4. Take one side of the bandage and wrap it over the hand (left to right, or vice versa) and then under the wrist.
  5. Repeat with the other side of the bandage. As you're wrapping, keep an eye on the gauze to make sure it stays in place.
  6. With the two loose ends poking out from under the wrist, bring them up and tie a simple square knot over the wrist to finish it off. If there's excess fabric, it can easily be tucked in underneath the knot.
Step by step image of a hand and wrist injury being treated with a white fabric triangular bandage

Hand (Exposed Fingers)

  1. Lay out the triangular bandage with the long side closest to you. Fold the right angle down by pulling it towards you. Fold the short edge towards the long side once more. You've just created a two-fold cravat.
  2. Take the cravat and place the middle section over the area covered by gauze. Bring the two ends under and over the hand on each side. As you're doing this, make sure to tuck the thumb under the bandage. The bandage should cross over to make an 'X'.
  3. Take the two ends and wrap under the wrist and bring back over the top of the hand. You should once again see an 'X' formed by the bandage.
  4. To tie off, loop the free ends under the wrist once more before bringing them back over to tie a square knot.
Step by step image of a hand and wrist injury being treated with a white fabric triangular bandage

Arm/Elbow Injuries

It’s important to be able to learn the basics of how to stabilize an arm in the event of an injury. A triangular bandage is a great tool to have in a first aid kit. It’s lightweight and easily pulls the weight from the affected arm to other parts of the body – which makes it the perfect temporary fix for dislocations and breaks.

  1. Take the triangular bandage and position the long side to be parallel to your body, with the right angle pointing the same direction as the affected arm.
  2. Position the bandage with the affected arm over top and one edge draped over the opposite shoulder.
  3. Take the loose end at the bottom and wrap it around and over the forearm, then tuck it between the arm and the body. You should now be able to hold the bandage in place between your arm and torso.
  4. Take the end of the bandage that was tucked between the arm and the torso and tie it off with the loose end that you had originally draped over the opposite shoulder.
Step by step breakdown of an arm and shoulder injury being treated with a sling made of a fabric triangular bandage

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