Understanding Your Gauze Options

Gauze is an important part of first aid and bleeding control. It’s used to press on a wound or to pack a deep cut to stop bleeding. Gauze is made from a light fabric, usually cotton, but sometimes from materials like rayon or polyester. Because it’s soft and absorbent, it helps blood clot and keeps wounds protected while they heal.

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There are different kinds of gauze, and each one has a special purpose.

Woven vs. Non-Woven Gauze

Woven Gauze: Made from cotton threads woven together. It’s strong and absorbs liquid well.

Best for: Open wounds or places with more bleeding.
- Keep in mind: It can leave tiny fibers (lint) if it isn’t tightly woven.

Non-Woven Gauze: Made from pressed fibers instead of woven threads. It’s softer and doesn’t leave lint behind.

Best for: Sensitive skin or surgical wounds where you don’t want any loose fibers.

Sterile vs. Non-Sterile Gauze

Sterile Gauze: Comes in sealed packaging and is completely free of germs.

Used for: Open cuts, burns, and surgical wounds.

Non-Sterile Gauze: Clean but not germ-free.

Used for: Cleaning unbroken skin, adding padding, or applying ointment.

Absorbent Pads vs. Roll Gauze

Gauze Pads: Flat squares or rectangles—4x4-inch pads—that go directly on a wound.

Used for: Covering a small cut.

Roll Gauze: Long strips of gauze used to wrap wounds or hold pads in place.

Used for: Wrapping a bandage around an arm or leg.

Choosing Gauze in an Emergency

If someone is bleeding, any clean gauze or cloth can help when you apply pressure. However, certain types of gauze work better for some situations. It’s a good idea to keep a few kinds in your first aid kit so you’re ready for anything.

Type	Purpose	Example Use
Plain sterile gauze	Standard bleeding control	Minor cuts or scrapes
Hemostatic gauze (e.g. QuickClot, Celox)	Helps blood clot faster	Deep or heavy bleeding
Rolled Gauze	Wraps to hold pressure	Arm or leg wounds
Non-stick Gauze	Keeps wound from reopening	After bleeding has stopped

Important Note on Wound Packing

Not every type of gauze should be used to pack a wound.

Do not use petrolatum or non-stick gauze for packing. Their coating keeps blood from being absorbed, which stops clotting. These are only for after the bleeding has stopped.
Never use cotton balls or tissues inside a wound. They leave bits of fiber behind, prevent clotting, and can cause infection.

Buy Gauze at the ACS Stop the Bleed Store

Wound Packing Gauze

Wound Packing Gauze is a compact, easy to use, Z-folded gauze designed for both linear wound packing and basic bandaging.

Hemostatic Dressing

Hemostatic dressing stops heavy bleeding by speeding up the body’s natural clotting process. Examples include Celox and Quickclot.