GRID SURVIVOR

Guide · First aid

Broken bones and splints

A broken bone (fracture) may cause pain, swelling, bruising, an odd shape or angle, or an inability to use the limb. If you're unsure, treat it as broken. Call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America) for broken thighs, hips or pelvis, any suspected neck or back injury, a bone through the skin, or a limb that is cold, pale or numb.

Basic care

  1. Keep the person still and support the injured part in the position you found it.
  2. Don't try to straighten a bent or deformed limb.
  3. Remove rings, watches and bracelets from the injured limb before it swells.
  4. If the bone has broken the skin (an open fracture), cover the wound with a clean dressing. Press around the bone, not on it, to control bleeding.
  5. Put a wrapped cold pack on the area for up to 20 minutes to ease pain and swelling.
  6. Watch for shock, and keep them warm.
  7. Don't give food or drink in case they need an operation.

Suspected neck or back injury

After a fall from height, a car crash or a dive into shallow water, assume a spinal injury. Tell the person not to move and hold their head still in line with the body. Only move them if they are in danger or you need to clear their airway.

Splinting

A splint stops the broken bone moving, which reduces pain and further damage. It matters most if you need to move the person or wait a long time for help.

  1. Find something rigid and longer than the injured bone: a rolled-up magazine, sticks, a walking pole, a folded sleeping mat or a piece of board.
  2. Pad it with clothing or cloth, especially around bony points.
  3. Place it so it covers the joints above and below the break.
  4. Tie it in place with strips of cloth, belts or tape — above and below the break, never over it.
  5. Firm, but not tight: you should be able to slide a finger under each tie.

You can also splint to the body. Strap an injured leg to the good leg with padding between, or support an injured arm in a sling against the chest.

Making a sling

  1. Support the injured arm across the chest, hand slightly higher than the elbow.
  2. Slide a triangular piece of cloth under the arm, top corner past the elbow.
  3. Bring the lower end up over the forearm and tie it to the top end at the side of the neck, on the injured side.
  4. A buttoned jacket or a safety-pinned sleeve can do the same job.

Check circulation

Every 15 minutes, check the fingers or toes beyond the injury. If they turn pale, blue, cold, numb or tingly, loosen the ties. A limb that stays cold and pale needs urgent medical help.

This guide does not replace a first-aid course. A few hours of hands-on practice will make you far more confident when it matters.

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