Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

8 Muscle, Bone and Joint Injuries

Using a Splint • Check perfusion in the limb below the injury. • If perfusion is absent or impaired, medical help is needed immediately. • Reposition severely deformed limbs if perfusion is impaired and the injury allows. • Expose the injury. Dress any open wounds. • Measure the splint against the uninjured side, adjusting as necessary before use on the injury. • Avoid placing a splint over an open wound. • Use broad bandages to secure splint firmly, not tightly enough to cause pain or impair perfusion. • Check any dressings and bandages that may have shifted during splinting. Check perfusion below the splint. • If perfusion is impaired and it was not before, readjust the splint as necessary. • Provide ongoing care until handover to medical personnel.

Splinting Arm and Leg Injuries Dislocated joints typically do not move easily and any movement causes pain as does any movement of broken bones. Movement of broken bones may also cause additional damage to surrounding tissue, muscle, blood vessels, and nerves. Immobilize limbs in a position that supports the injury, prevents movement, and causes the least amount of pain. This is usually the position found. An elbow or knee joint will usually be most comfortable in a relaxed or semi-bent position. The hand is usually most comfortable in a relaxed, semi- open position.

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