Wound dressings

It is forbidden to dress a surface wound on Shabbos if there is no pain which would classify the person as ill and no danger of infection. If the wound was dressed before Shabbos with a bandage containing ointment and the bandage fell to the ground on Shabbos (see siman 328:25), it may not be replaced if the ointment is still moist. It is permissible to place a non-medicated bandage or band-aid on the wound. These do not aid in healing; they only prevent pain and infection. ( שו"ע שא, כב, ומשנ"ב עה, עו ו־עח)

Medicated bandages

A medicated bandage may be worn in the street on Shabbos. Since it aids in healing, it is batul to the body. If an additional layer is wrapped over it for non-medical purposes, the extra layer may not be worn in the street on Shabbos since it is not batul to the body. If the additional wrap covering the bandage is not valuable and will be discarded, it is considered tofel to the permissible bandage and may be worn in a reshus harabim. ( שו"ע שא, כב, ומשנ"ב עה ו־עז)

Single-use bandages

According to many poskim, a non-medicated bandage may be worn in the street because it protects a wound from further harm (i.e. scraping, infection) and alleviates pain. There is an opinion which forbids wearing such a bandage because it does not aid in healing. A single-use bandage (e.g. Bandaid) that will be discarded after use is not considered valuable and can be worn in the street on Shabbos according to all opinions. It is advisable to use such bandages (as vs. the reusable type) in a public domain on Shabbos. ( שו"ע שא, כב, משנ"ב עז ו־קח, וביה"ל ד"ה יוצאים)

An elderly, infirm or weak person who is incapable of walking at home without assistance can use a cane or walker in a public domain on Shabbos. The cane is treated as a shoe and may be used in the street. According to some poskim, someone who uses a wheelchair because a cane or walker is insufficient may transport himself in a wheelchair in a public domain if he is unable to walk indoors. Like the cane in the previous section, the chair is treated as his shoe. Other poskim hold that the chair cannot be considered a shoe because he sits in it and does not walk at all. Some poskim treat hearing aids like a cane and permit those who cannot hear without the device to wear it in a reshus harabim. This opinion considers the hearing aid like an ‘ear,’ similar to the way the cane in the previous section was treated as a shoe. Other poskim forbid wearing the device in the street. (It should be noted that not all poskim permit the use of a hearing aid on Shabbos.)

A bite-plate or night-brace on Shabbos Cleaners’ tags Rain hats

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.

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