First Aid Tips: How to Deal with a Broken Bone

Fractures are broken bones and require immediate medical attention. This is regardless whether the fracture is as thin as a hair line or the bone is completely broken.

Fractures must be addressed properly. If not treated right away, it can lead to total disability or even death. The good thing is human bones have the capacity to completely heal, as long as proper treatment is made. First aid plays an important role to the recovery of the patient. It is important therefore you know how to apply first aid to a person who broke his or her bone.

How to determine if the bone is broken?

There most important aspect in first aid is injury assessment. Here are some signs of a broken bone:

1. Pain.
2. Swelling.
3. Deformity or misalignment of the injured part.
4. Heavy Bleeding.
5. Difficulty in moving the injured part.
6. Deep, sharp pain when the victim attempts to move the injured part
7. Protrusion of bone through the skin.

First Aid

Once you have confirmed that the victim suffered a broken bone, the first thing you must remember is to immobilize the injured area. Never attempt to realign the bone. Unless you are trained and help is unavailable, let the professionals do the splint.

Call emergency medical help right away.

Attend to the bleeding. Get a clean cloth or sterile bandage and apply pressure to the wound – but not too much pressure. Suffering from a broken bone is painful enough. Make sure that the victim will be as calm and relaxed as possible. Ask the patient to apply pressure on the wound. The bleeding must be stopped at once. Keep the pressure on until the wound has completely clotted. Do not check regularly if the bleeding stopped since it will only damage fresh clot and may cause bleeding to resume.

Apply cold compress or ice pack directly to the skin.

Never leave the person. Check for vital signs regularly. Check for pulse and breathing. If necessary, perform CPR.

Keep the victim warm and calm until help arrives. Keep the patient lying down.

Never attempt to give food or liquid to the victim with anything.

Once emergency help arrives, explain to the attending medical professional the cause of the injury and first aid procedures you have performed. Call the relatives of the victim.

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