1. When treating a wound, sometimes applying a bandage is necessary. Adhesive bandages may be applied on Shabbat for any type of wound or scratch, without concern for the prohibition against taking medicine. The reason is that, as we have seen previously, medicine is generally defined as a treatment that can heal the ailment or illness. However, a bandage merely covers and protects the wound, but does not heal it directly (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 328:23-24). We will see over the next few days that there are some additional halachic issues that must be addressed when using an adhesive bandage.

2. Bandages with antiseptic preparations may also be used, since the antiseptic ingredient helps to disinfect the wound but does not heal it, similar to what was discussed in #1 and concerning disinfectant liquid (“Halachos of Refuah on Shabbos,” p.328). A bandage that contains antibiotics may not be used on minor wounds since these do aid in healing and would be forbidden as medicine (R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Shulchan Shlomo, Refuah vol.2). As discussed in earlier posts, antibiotic treatment would be permitted in cases of more serious wounds.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.