There are two main types of first aid bandages: (1) a roller bandage, typically used to hold a dressing in place, (2) a triangular bandage. While triangular bandages are most often used for making slings, they are versatile. Most first aid kits today include a triangular bandage as a standard inventory item.

A field dressing or battle dressing is a bandage intended to be carried by soldiers for immediate use in (typically gunshot) wounds. It consists of a large pad of absorbent cloth, attached to the middle of a strip of thin fabric used to bind the pad in place. Field dressings are issued in sealed waterproof pouches to keep them clean and dry.

A bandage is material used either to support a medical device such as a dressing or splint, or on its own to provide support to or to restrict the movement of a part of the body. When used with a dressing, the dressing is applied directly on a wound, and a bandage is used to hold the dressing in place.
Elastic bandages are used without dressings to reduce swelling or to provide support to a sprain. Tight bandages may be used to slow blood flow to an extremity, such as when a leg or arm is bleeding heavily.
Field dressings are manufactured in many countries, including Canada. The Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force also use field dressings.
Dimension Notes: Field dressings come in various sizes and shapes.
Bandage number description:
- CFMS, first aid field 1994
- Shell, Mark111, 1961
- Bandage, triangular plain
- First field, 1943 & 11944
- First aid, large, US Army, Carlisle model
- First aid, small, US Army, Carlisle model
- Pins, safety, package
- Field, large
- Cotton gauze