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How Should I Treat a Bone Fracture?
The short answer to this question is: you shouldn't, unless you are a member of the medical community. You may find yourself in a circumstance where you need to offer first aid to someone with a fracture, however, and it can help to know what to do. In all cases, never move a patient with a broken neck, back, or pelvis, and watch out for signs of severe bleeding and shock. If you spend a lot of time camping or in the wilderness, you might want to think about taking a wilderness first aid course, which will provide you with the skills you need to treat a bone fracture until you can bring the patient to help or contact emergency services to request an evacuation.
When you suspect that someone has a bone fracture, try to keep the person calm and still. Any movement can be extremely painful, and if the patient gets upset, it could lead to shock. Assess the patient's general condition, in addition to the area of the fracture, and make sure that his or her airway is clear and that circulation is strong.
If the fracture is open, rinse the wound gently to flush out contaminated material. You should also flush any other wounds the patient may have. Whether the fracture is open or closed, you will also need to immobilize the area. In addition to reducing the patient's pain, this can cut down on the risk of internal bleeding and other complications. Immobilize a fracture by splinting it, and watch out for tight clothing, as the site of the fracture may swell, and clothing could cut off circulation.
If you notice swelling, you can use icepacks wrapped in towels to bring the inflammation down. Apply gentle pressure to stop any bleeding, if possible. While you offer first aid for the broken bone, remember that the patient may have other injuries which are not as obvious, so check in periodically to make sure that he or she is still responsive, and ask about any other areas of pain.
It is much easier for a medical professional to treat a bone fracture when he or she sees the patient immediately, so you should also call for help or have someone call for help while you care for the patient. If the case appears simple, like a broken arm, you can transport the person to the hospital in your own car as soon as the fracture is immobilized; if it looks complicated, call for an ambulance. In an incident like a car accident, it is better to wait for paramedics to arrive, as they can check for hidden injuries that could cause complications for the patient.
Discussion Comments
@strawCake - Taking a first aid class is a great idea. I took one a few years ago, and I feel a lot more confident about my abilities to help someone in an emergency. I also got CPR certified, which is also a great idea.
I think it's a great idea to take a wilderness first aid class if you're going to spend a lot of time camping. It's definitely possible to do someone more harm than good by trying to help if you don't know how to treat a broken bone. A first aid class can show you exactly what to do (and what not to do) so you have the greatest chances of actually being able to help.
Actually, taking a first aid class is a pretty good idea for everyone even if you don't go camping a lot. You never know when you may end up in a situation where there's a medical emergency.
@starrynight - I completely agree with this. It's also good to try not to scare the injured person for their own mental health, a well as their physical health. When I was little, I had an injury and I remember getting so upset when people who were there starting saying what they thought was wrong. It ended up being nothing serious, so it would have been better to just wait for a doctor to diagnose me than using their imaginations and sharing their thoughts with me.
I think keeping a person with fracture symptoms calm until they can get treatment from a medical professional is really important. If a person with a fractures starts getting upset, they might be likely to start moving around erratically, which is obviously not a good idea when you have a fracture.
You can try to get the person to calm down by getting them to take long, slow deep breaths. Also, avoid getting too upset yourself, if you can. Moods are contagious, so if you seem calm it will go a long way to keeping the injured person calm too.
I think that it actually makes sense because I did the demonstration in Physical Education and it scored me a 100.
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