FRACTURES – FIRST AID AND VIDEO

General Treatment

Casualties with fractures should not be moved unless it is absolutely necessary. Make the casualty as comfortable as possible, steady the part by hand or with padding, and await the arrival of skilled help. If you must move the casualty do so carefully and gently to avoid further injury and increased pain.

Specific fractures are dealt with individually later in the chapter. However, the general rules for the treatment of any fracture are as follows:

• Conduct a Primary & Secondary Survey
• Call for help & EMS – transport to hospital
• Treat the injury in the position you find it
• DO NOT re-align or straighten a limb
• Immobilize injury with soft, bulky padding
• If the bone is protruding, treat it as an impaled object
• Apply ice pack around affected area – if possible
• Only move casualty once the limb is in a splint or sling
• Treat the casualty for shock

NB!!! A fractured limb may be so deformed that it will be impossible to apply bandages or splints without some re-alignment of the limb. In this case carefully and gently apply traction to the end of the limb and straighten it as far as the casualty will allow causing as little pain as possible.

CLOSED FRACTURES FIRST AID

OPEN FRACTURES FIRST AID