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How to properly apply and remove medical tape.

Health care worker applying medical tape to an IV inserted into hospital patient’s arm

The word is out – Medical Adhesive Related Skin Injuries or MARSI are avoidable.

As a health care provider, you have resources to help you identify who is most at risk for injury, as well as how to select the proper medical adhesive or tape for the job.

However, ensuring that medical tape is properly applied and removed can go a long way when it comes to preventing injury and providing optimal care.

1. Medical tape application

Proper tape application sets the stage for minimizing the risk of MARSI.

See detailed guidelines and tips for applying tape in many situations.

2. Proper removal

Proper adhesive removal is also critical in reducing the incidence of MARSI.

Adhesive removers are also available to facilitate this process.

These products fall into three distinct categories: alcohol/organic-based solvents, oil-based, and silicone-based removers, with the silicone-based products having the best attributes.

Explore 3M Medical Adhesives and Tapes

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