First Aid For
Broken Bones (Fractures)

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There are 206 bones in the human body and it is possible to break just about all of them. There are different types of breaks but first aid for broken bones is pretty much the same.

Types of Breaks

• Fractures
• 'Greenstick' Fractures. On an x-ray, it is a barely visible fracture that resembles the patterns of a young splintered twig.
• Open fractures. When the bone protrudes through the skin
• The bone can also separate completely from the other half
• It is possible for the bone to break in more then one place

Symptoms

Special note. if you even suspect a break get thee to a hospital. A broken bone not properly treated can cause future deformities and limited movement.

You can expect a break if...

• The damaged limb is not useable or unable to bear weight
• There is a lot of bleeding and bruising in the damaged area
• The injury was caused by a powerful blow
• The injury is near the end of a bone or on a joint and has one or more of the other symptoms
• The damaged limb is blue or cold
• The patient is sweating, pale, dizzy or thirsty. These are sign of shock and require immediate medical attention
• The damaged limb is crooked
• The damage occurs in the pelvis or thigh go to the hospital. There are a lot of nerves and arteries that run through the pelvis you will need to be x-rayed

First Aid for Broken Bones

There are a few things you can do while waiting for help or on the ride to the hospital

• Apply ice to the injured area to reduce pain and swelling
• Create a splint to reduce pain and prevent shock
• Splints can be made from rolled-up newspapers and magazines, an umbrella, a stick, a cane and rolled up blankets.
• Place the splint around the injury gently holding it in place with a necktie, strip of cloth or belt. The general rule is to splint a joint above and below the fracture
• Lightly tape an injured leg to an uninjured leg placing padding between the legs
• Lightly tape an injured arm to the chest if the elbow bends. If the arm is straight tape it to the side of the body place padding between the arm and the body
• For a broken arm make a sling from a triangle of cloth. Place the arm in the cloth and tie the ends around the neck so the arm is resting at a 90 degree angle
• Check the pulse in the injured limb below the splint. If you can't feel a pulse the splint is too tight
• Other signs that the splint is too tight include numbness, a blue tinge to the skin, tingling and swelling. Loosen the splint if these symptoms arise

• DO NOT give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to a child under the age of 19 (unless advised by your physician)due to its association with Reye's Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition
• DO NOT try and set a broken bone or push a protruding bone back under the skin