On Splinting
A splint is a bandage that immobilizes a broken bone. Sometimes this is done by using rigid objects such as sticks or boards. For some injuries, however, this isn't possible and the only option is to tie the broken limb to the body.
When applying a splint, do not attempt to straighten the break. This will only cause further injury and more pain. Instead, simply apply the splint to the break the way it is.
When using rigid material:
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Always use long enough pieces to reach the joints beyond the break. For example, when splinting a forearm, the material should be long enough to touch both the wrist and the elbow. This helps keep the material in place and prevents too much pressure from being applied to the wound.
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Always put padding between the rigid material and the body to keep the victim comfortable.
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Tie knots between the rigid material and the body (in mid-air) when possible. This makes them easier to untie. If this is not possible, tie knots over the rigid material.
To splint the forearm, surround the break with rigid material and snugly bandage it to the arm with wide cloth strips. A newspaper or magazine, curled into a "U" shape, works very we
To splint the elbow
To splint the elbow, use enough rigid material to go from the armpit to the hand. The entire arm should be immobilized. Do not attempt to straighten or bend the elbow; splint it in position
Upper Leg Splint
To splint the upper leg, use long pieces of rigid material that will reach from the ankle to the armpit. Above the hips, tie long straps around the torso to hold the top of the splint in place.
Arm Splint
I'm aTo splint the forearm, surround the break with rigid material and snugly bandage it to the arm with wide cloth strips. A newspaper or magazine, curled into a "U" shape, works very well.
Ankle Splint
I'm aSplinting a sprained ankle is difficult. The objective is to restrict the ankle's movement and provide some constriction to prevent swelling. A long cloth band can be wrapped around the ankle to do this. Be very careful not to tie the bandage too tight and be sure to check it frequently. Check blood flow by squeezing the victim's toenails and watching the color refill. Compare to the victim's other foot.