Fractures: First Aid

By Matt Unangst, 04 Mar 16:03

A broken bone is a serious injury which requires professional medical attention.

Call 911 if the fracture results from a major injury or trauma. You should also call 911 in any of the following cases:
• The person who suffered the injury is not moving or is not breathing. Perform CPR if the person shows no signs of respiration or heartbeat
• The person is bleeding heavily
• A gentle movement or pressure causes pain
• The joint or limb is deformed
• A bone has pierced the skin
• The end of a limb, i.e. a toe or finger, which has been injured is numb or bluish
• There is reason to suspect a fracture of a bone in the neck, head, or back
• There is reason to suspect a fracture of a bone in the hip, pelvis, or upper leg – if the leg turns abnormally

While waiting for professional medical care, you should take the following actions to limit the severity of the injury:

• Stop bleeding by gently pressing on the wound with a sterile bandage, clean cloth, or a clean piece of clothing
• Immobilize the injured area. You should not try to realign the bone yourself, but if you know how to splint a bone, splint the injured area.
• Use ice to limit swelling and pain. Do not apply the ice directly to the person’s skin – wrap it in a cloth or towel.
• If the person shows signs of shock – feeling faint or short, rapid breathing – have him/her lie down with his/her slightly lower than the torso and elevate the legs if you can do so.

lipo 6

Tags: first aid, fracture, broken bone