There are 3 types of roller bandage: bandages made of open-weave material allow ventilation, but don't put pressure on wounds and don't support joints elasticated bandages mould to a person's body shape, and are used to secure dressings and support soft tissue injuries like sprains crepe bandages are used to give firm support to injured joints To apply a roller bandage: keep the rolled part of the bandage above the injury and the unrolled part below the injury begin by wrapping twice around the injury to hold the end in place work up the limb, winding the bandage in spiralling turns, making sure that each new layer covers one-third to two-thirds of the previous one finish by wrapping the bandage around once more and securing the end When applying bandages to elbows and knees to hold dressings in place or support sprains or strains, flex the joint slightly, apply the bandage in a figure of eight, and extend the bandage quite far on each side of the joint. When applying bandages on hands to hold dressings in place or support sprains and strains, work from the inside of the wrist using diagonal turns across the back of the hand to the end of the little finger, leaving the thumb free.