A fracture is a break or crack in a bone. The simple sound of this phrase is enough to cause chills down your spine. Usually, this injury begins with an audible snap and then a sharp pain. The worst of these injuries is the terrible open fracture, as it consists of an open cut and, often, a protruding bone; but fortunately it can be treated during first aid with a little effort and a lot of attention.
Steps
Step 1. If you suspect that there is a broken bone, especially in the head, neck, back, hip or thigh, you see severe bleeding, or a bone protruding from the skin is evident, call emergency services immediately
If the patient is bleeding a lot and you want to leave him to call for help, first make sure everything is under control. Or, better yet, send someone else for help.
Step 2. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of a fracture
This is the first step, even before starting any other intervention. You can't start treatment if you don't know what the problem is. These listed below are the signs and symptoms of a conscious patient.
- Audible snap that has been heard and felt. When the patient explains the dynamics of the accident, where it happened and reports that he heard a snap, there is very little chance that it is anything other than a fracture.
- The patient is able to pinpoint the exact location of the pain and swelling; he is unable to move that area as he could before the accident.
- The patient may also tell you that he can feel the bones rubbing against each other; it's called "crepitio". This is also another clear sign that it is a fracture.
- Abnormal movements may also occur in the injured area. These could give the idea of a "second elbow" or an ankle that shouldn't move that way at all.
Step 3. Remove or cut the patient's clothing around the wound area
Consider the victim's privacy and dignity, taking away only what is necessary.
Step 4. If the person is bleeding a lot, especially if the blood is gushing, stop the bleeding as you would for any other type of wound, usually by pressing hard with a cloth or even with your hand
If there is no dangerous blood loss, do not put pressure on the open fracture, as you could cause more damage than you are trying to fix.
Step 5. Avoid washing the wound, feeling it or feeling it
If it is obviously painful to touch, swollen and pigmented, in addition to the other signs and symptoms listed above, consider that it is a fracture, then take the victim to the hospital.
Step 6. Cover the entire wound with a large sterile dressing (or as clean as possible), with gauze or swab if a piece of bone protrudes through the skin
Step 7. Call 118 or take the patient to the nearest hospital yourself
The injured limb should be moved as little as possible. If the injury is serious, the ideal would be an ambulance, in order to avoid worsening and to have someone available for any complications that may arise
Advice
Manage and control bleeding before treating the wound or injury. No matter what you do to the victim's broken, protruding bone, it's all in vain if he bleeds to death. Stop the bleeding first
Warnings
- Never put your finger or object in a wound where the bone is protruding.
- Do not try to put the bone back in place or manually adjust it.
- Never try to replace missing bone fragments.
