Broken Bones
There are 206 bones in the adult body, all of which are susceptible to force. Broken bones are most common in the extremities (arms or legs), but are not life-threatening unless they damage arteries or organs.
How can I tell if it's broken?
When bones break, symptoms appear immediately. They include:
- Tenderness and swelling
- Loss of strength
- Pain that increases with movement
- Inability to move or bear weight
- Grating noise
- Deformity
- Muscle spasms
Treatment Techniques
Unless help is available immediately, splinting is recommended to reduce pain and the risk of complications.
Steps For Splinting
With all fractures, your goal is to immobilize the break to prevent further damage. To do this, you'll need a stiff object, some padding, and rope or strips of cloth to tie the splint. Below are some splinting guidelines.
Splinting Guidelines
- Move the victim as little as possible, or not at all if there is a chance the spine or head has been injured.
- Don't let the person eat or drink anything.
- Splint an injury in the position you found it; never try to straighten or set a fracture.
- Always care for wounds before applying a splint. (If a bone is protruding through the skin, apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding, but don't try to push it into place.)
- Cover the affected area with padding, then use a stiff object to support the limb. Secure the splint with ties placed above and below the break. (Ties should be snug without interfering with circulation.)
- Ideally, the splint should extend beyond adjacent joints to prevent movement.
- Elevate the splinted limb to minimize swelling.
A temporary splint can be fashioned from a magazine, a crutch, or any available material that is stiff enough to prevent movement and long enough to extend beyond joints on either side of the fracture.
Should I call a Doctor?
A fracture can be a crack or a complete break in the bone. You'll need to see a doctor for all fractures, but properly administered first aid can be the first step to healing properly.
Don't Play Tough
Just because you can use an injured arm or leg doesn't mean it's intact. A fracture doesn't always render you helpless, but you do need help. Playing tough and ignoring pain only makes matters worse. If you continue to move the bone, the fracture can get worse and swelling can make it virtually impossible to cast. Instead, play it safe. See a doctor after any injury involving force.
Back to First Aid.