<P> Applying a dressing is a first aid skill, although many people undertake the practice with no training--especially on minor wounds . Modern dressings will almost all come in a prepackaged sterile wrapping, date coded to ensure sterility . Sterility is necessary to prevent infection from pathogens resident within the dressing . </P> <P> Historically, and still the case in many less developed areas and in an emergency, dressings are often improvised as needed . This can consist of anything, including clothing or spare material, which will fulfill some of the basic tenets of a dressing--usually stemming bleeding and absorbing exudate . </P> <P> Applying and changing dressings is one common task in nursing . </P>

A bandage is a sterile covering for a wound