The adhesive bandage consists of a support with one surface having pressure sensitive adhesive and a wound covering pad placed centrally on it, which are covered by two protective detachable tear away tabs. The tear away tab consists of a single layer over the adhesive surface of the support and becomes two layered over the pad region. The two layers are fused at the zone of fusion near the margin of the pad, but are otherwise free from each other. The layer close to the pad, called inner barrier layer, completely covers the pad area. The outer layer, also called grasping layer, partially covers the barrier layer and the pad, and is folded upon itself to give sufficient length. When the outer layer is grasped to pull apart the releasable tear away tabs the inner barrier layer prevents contact of the finger to the pad. As one pulls apart the tear away tabs the barrier layers unfold and prevent contact of the fingers with the wound and wound exudates, preventing cross contamination. The bandage is enclosed in an envelope with the free ends of uneven dimension to have free part of the surface of both leaves, which are easy to grasp and separate.
