Emergency Cards EN-US

United States

Fractures

Reviewed

Use at your own risk. For education and research only, not medical advice. Check the numbers and rules for the country you are in. They change. Before you rely on these cards, have a medical professional or a fire safety specialist review them. Disclaimer

Do this first

Keep the limb still, exactly as you found it, and support it in that position.

A broken bone hurts, swells and often looks wrong. The worst damage usually comes afterward, when somebody tries to move or straighten the limb.

Step by step

  1. Stop the person moving and calm them. Sit or lie them in the most comfortable position.
  2. Support the injured limb by hand, or with rolled clothing packed on both sides.
  3. Call 911 for a leg, hip, spine, pelvis or open fracture, or for any injury the person cannot support themselves.
  4. Cover an open wound with a clean dressing and press gently beside the bone, never on it.
  5. Hold something cold wrapped in cloth against the injury for up to twenty minutes to limit swelling. Never put ice on bare skin.
  6. Check the fingers or toes beyond the injury. If they are cold, blue, numb or without a pulse, tell the dispatcher, because this is urgent.
  7. Give nothing to eat or drink, in case an anesthetic is needed.

Never do this

  • Do not push a bone back or straighten a deformed limb.
  • Do not let the person walk on a suspected leg, hip or pelvis fracture.
  • Do not move anyone with a suspected spine or neck injury unless they are in immediate danger.

Call emergency services if

  • The limb is deformed, bone is visible, or the person cannot use it at all.
  • Suspected injury to the head, neck, spine, hip or pelvis.
  • Fingers or toes beyond the injury are numb, blue, cold or pale.

Common questions

Break or sprain?

You cannot tell for sure without an X-ray, and the first aid is the same. Support it, cool it and have it looked at.

Should I make a splint?

Only if you have to move the person and help is far away. Pad it well, immobilize the joints above and below, and check the circulation again after tying.

Next cards

Sources and standards

Use at your own risk. For education and research only, not medical advice. Check the numbers and rules for the country you are in. They change. Before you rely on these cards, have a medical professional or a fire safety specialist review them.