How Do You Treat A Closed Fracture During First Aid?
Fractures are serious injuries, especially in the wilderness when help is far away. Treat a closed fracture with these steps. Step 1 Assess for fracture (see “How to Assess for Fracture”). Step 2 Immobilize the injury. Any movement is not only very painful but can worsen the injury. Step 3 Decide whether or not to realign the fractured bone, and realign if necessary (see “How to Realign a Fractured Bone”). Step 4 Clean and dress all wounds (see eHows on wound management). Step 5 Remove tight clothing, watches, jewelry – anything that could impede circulation. Step 6 Check circulation, sensation and motion beyond the fracture site. Step 7 Splint the fracture (see eHows on splinting). Step 8 Recheck circulation, sensation and motion beyond the fracture site. Step 9 Elevate the fracture 6 to 10 inches to reduce swelling. Step 10 Apply cold packs or ice to the fracture, as long as there is no risk of hypothermia or frostbite. Step 11 Monitor and treat for shock (see eHows on shock). Step 1
