First Aid Treatment For Bone Fractures, Cracked & Broken Bones

Important Information
• Suspect a fracture if, after a fall or blow, a limb appears to be in an unnatural position, is unusable, swells or bruises rapidly or is extremely painful at a specific point
• Only splint an injury if EMS care or transport to a medical facility is delayed and if you can do so without causing further pain and discomfort to the patient
• All fractures need professional medical attention

Patient Care for Fractures
STOP - Assess and observe the scene
THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan
ACT - Check responsiveness and Alert EMS
For a patient involved in a major fall, collision or blow, conduct an injury assessment to determine the extent of all injuries besides an obvious dislocation and/or fracture
If EMS is delayed or unavailable, prepare the patient for transport choosing a splint that is long enough to immobilize the bones above and below the unstable joint
Splint the injury in the position found minimizing movement while splinting; Do not try to straighten the fracture
Bandage the splint in place using a triangle bandage or other available materials
Fractured fingers and toes may be taped to adjacent fingers or toes for extra support
Check circulation before and after splinting loosening the splint if it interferes with the circulation
For a closed fracture, apply a cold compress to the area to reduce the swelling during transportation

Patient Care for Dislocations
Important Information
• Dislocations occur when a great deal of pressure is placed on a joint
• The patient's joint appears deformed and the injury is usually very painful
• Only splint an injury if EMS care or transport to a medical facility is delayed and if you can do so without causing further pain and discomfort to the patient
• All dislocations need professional medical attention

STOP - Assess and observe the scene
THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan
ACT - Check responsiveness and Alert EMS
For a patient involved in a major fall, collision or blow, conduct an injury assessment to determine the extent of all injuries besides an obvious dislocation and/or fracture
If EMS is delayed or unavailable, prepare the patient for transport
For a dislocation, apply a cold compress to the area to reduce the swelling during transportation

First Aid Advice & Information for Fractures and Dislocations is for guidance only - Click Here to get CPR & First Aid Trained