FirstAid4Sport Microporous Tape > Reviews (2)

FirstAid4Sport Microporous Tape

**Stuff you need to know**
How do you decide what product to write about today? Well I must come clean. Although I have much experience of this first aid tape the reason I am scribing about it today is a blatant attempt at the sympathy vote. All commiserations and general "There, there" s gratefully recieved!
Now you have some background I shall begin:

What is it?

FirstAid4Sport Microporous Tape is essentially a roll of sticky tape used to hold bandages or other medical dressings in place. It can be purchased in 10m rolls of varying widths:1.25; 2.5 and 5 cms. It is white in colour.

The tape feels a little like brittle paper and in a blindfold test you would predict that it was not at all strong. Despite its feel and its very useful ability to be torn by hand, the tape is surprisingly strong. There are lots of microporous tapes on the market and I am, like many of my fellow ciaoers, a bit of a bargain-own-brand kind of shopper when it comes to relatively basic products. However, I have recently discovered (building up to the sympathy bit) that not all tapes are sufficiently effective. The following little guide will explain why:

What to look for in a microporous tape

1. Stickability. Not all tapes are sticky! They have quite a job to do sticking to fabric and often having to withstand some degree of stretch. Many tapes simply lift away with the bandage fibres stuck to them - not what you need in a situation which may well be serious. Conversely, a tape we tried from a pound shop was so sticky it was almost impossible to peel off its own roll!
2. Breathability. Your injury usually won't benefit from being hermetically sealed. The surrounding skin needs to breathe and thus a porous tape is needed. This again is no mean feat as we are requiring stickability, stretchability plus holes! This tape is porous and when used to wrap eg a finger bandage will seal effectively without undue sweating / skin damage.
3. Accessible. In the middle of a rugby field or on top of a mountain what you don't need is to be bound in sticky tape which is stetching and pulling on your wound as you attempt to cut or rip it off the roll. This stuff rips by hand, making it easy to use the right amount and quickly.
4. Feel. The finished first aid now has quality tape acros the bandage or around the wound. This is where the paper effect is useful. Some tape I have used has a plastic sheen to it which, when used on a finger or part of the body where contact between the outer tape and skin may occur, can feel uncomfortable and chafe. The more brittle feel of this tape overcomes that, although you must be sure to lay it flat so that sharp folds don't appear.
5. Hygiene. Some tapes come in a plastic container to keep your tape hygienically sealed. This tape doesn't, making it more use as a bandage tape or perhaps to keep a medical tube in place rather than a wound tape ie a tape which is kept away from possible sites of infection. However, a small plastic bag around the roll will keep your tape clean enough for bandage finishing within your first aid kit.

Price and Availability

We bought this tape from our local independent chemist fo £1.20 for a 2.5cms roll. It is widely available on the web and the manufacturer has its own online shop:
http://www.firstaid4sport.co.uk where you can purchase the rolls from between 54p and £1.80 depending on size (free delivery over £40 is you need to stock up!)

The bit you really need to know(!)

Oh, if you insist, I'll let you know why I know so much about surgical tape. First my daughter mallets her finger and needs to keep a splint stuck on for 5 weeks; then my son scalds his arm during a school home economics lesson whilst trying to "catch" a kettle someone else had knocked into; and then I damage some ligaments in my foot doing a dance class (requires bandaging) - walk awkwardly and subsequently break a foot bone (don't know this so carry on bandaging tightly) - walk awkwardly on that and break another bone! (Finally get myself to a and e and now have a full leg pot on!) I have thus spent the last 2 months binding support bandages and in a great deal of discomfort! 1,2,3, Ahhh!

Verdict

Great tape - well designed for comfort, accessibility and effectiveness. Hope you won't need any soon!