In life, it is impossible to completely avoid getting hurt, and a bone fracture may be one of the injuries you sustain. If you suffer from a fracture, you should visit Jaymes Granata, MD who runs one of the best joint and bone centers in Las Vegas.
When you fracture a bone, it may take some time before you are able to visit a doctor. You will probably have to conduct first aid on the injury so that it does not get worse. Of course, there are certain situations where you should wait for emergency responders such as if the person is unresponsive. The following are some first aid tips for a fracture:
Stop the Bleeding
The first thing you should do if you have a fracture is to stop any bleeding, whatsoever. Blood loss can lead to a loss of consciousness which makes it infinitely harder to monitor your condition.
Ideally, you should get a clean, dry cloth such as an unused handkerchief and wrap the bleeding injury. If the bleeding is too significant, an absorbent cloth like a towel or clean piece of clothing will function better. If you have any antiseptic, ensure you disinfect the bleeding area before bandaging it. You can also use an anti-clot agent if available.
Immobilize the Injured Area
One of the worst and most common mistakes people do when giving first aid to a fracture is to try and realign the fractured bone. Unless you have some sort of medical training, you should refrain from doing this. Doing so may have devastating consequences immediately and in the future.
What you should do is to try and immobilize the injured area so you or the injured person cannot move it. Using splints is one of the best ways to immobilize a fractured bone. It will not only help support the injured area, but also reduce discomfort.
Ice the Injury
An ice pack can prove to be a tremendous help when providing first aid to a fractured bone. Cooling the injured area with ice serves the purpose of reducing swelling and relieving pain, both of which can be extreme when you fracture a bone.
On the other hand, you should only ice the area in intervals of about twenty minutes. You should also only ice the injured area with a cloth or bag and never apply the ice directly. Doing so can cause further inflammation to the fracture.
Lay Down
One of the common effects of having a bone fracture is experiencing shock. Not many people can handle seeing a disfigured body part, or in extreme circumstances their bone protruding from their skin. When a person is in shock, they may do dangerous things such as attempt to run to safety on a broken leg, therefore exacerbating the situation.
You can usually tell if a person is in shock if their breathing is shallow and rapid, and they express a feeling as if they are going to faint. In this case, the individual should lay down with their head slightly lower than their body. This position ensures that there is still a consistent blood flow going to their head which helps with the shock.
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