How to Handle Bone Fracture
- Send for a doctor, if at all possible.
- Prevent further damage by applying a splint before attempting to move the victim.
- Keep the injured person warm and comfortable to combat shock.
- Control bleeding. Apply heavy pressure aver the bleeding vessels, using a bandage and a clean dressing. If necessary, apply a tourniquet . Cut or remove any clothing that obstruct your vision of the injured area.
- Leave the bone fragments alone. If you see the broken sticking through the skin, cover it with sterile gauze and apply a splint. Hold the limb steady in the position where the break occurred. Leave all further manipulation to the doctor. Take the patient to a hospital at once.
- When in doubt whether there is a fracture or not, apply a splint as suggested below. The only purpose of a splint is to hold the bone fragments steady so that the nearby joints cannot move. Any movement of the injured limb may cause serious trouble.
