First Aid Treatment for Dislocations

Important Information

Dislocations occur when a great deal of pressure is placed on a joint

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The patient's joint appears deformed and the injury is usually very painful

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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

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All dislocations need professional medical attention

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• STOP - Assess and observe the scene;

• THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan

• ACT - Check responsiveness and Alert EMS

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• 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 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

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