A simple and effective method of sterilizing Esmarch bandages

The authors evaluated three methods of sterilizing Esmarch bandages. A commercially available autoclave tape laid along the whole length of the midpoint of the width of the bandage was used to determine sterility. Satisfactory sterility was achieved by rolling the Esmarch loosely, with a standard crepe bandage interposed between layers. Tightly rolled bandages and folded bandages without the crepe bandage interposition could not be reliably sterilized.