If the person is unresponsive, not breathing normally, or you are unsure — call your local emergency number NOW, before anything else.
First Aid for Fractures & Broken Bones
A fracture is a broken or cracked bone, often caused by a fall, blow, or crash. Quick first aid helps prevent more injury, reduces pain, and can protect life if there is severe bleeding or injury to the head, neck, back, chest, or pelvis.
Call emergency services immediately if…
- The person has trouble breathing, is not waking normally, or may have a head, neck, or back injury
- There is heavy bleeding, the bone is sticking out, or the wound is large or deep
- The injury followed a major fall, road crash, crushing injury, or other high-force trauma
- The limb looks badly deformed, feels numb, turns pale or blue, or the person cannot move fingers or toes
- You suspect a broken hip, pelvis, thigh bone, or multiple broken bones
- 1
Call emergency help
Call the local emergency number right away for any life-threatening injury or if you are unsure how serious it is. Put the phone on speaker if you can so you can follow instructions while helping.
- 2
Keep the person still
Ask the person to stop moving the injured area and stay as still as possible. If you think there may be a neck, back, hip, or pelvis injury, do not move them unless there is immediate danger.
- 3
Control bleeding
If there is bleeding, press firmly around or over the wound with a clean cloth or dressing. If bone is sticking out, do not push it back in; cover the wound gently and avoid pressing directly on the exposed bone.
- 4
Support the injury
Use your hands, rolled towels, clothing, or other soft items to support the injured body part in the position you found it. Do not try to straighten it or test whether it is broken.
- 5
Immobilize if safe
If help is delayed and you can do so without causing more pain, place padding around the injury and secure a splint to keep the joints above and below the break still. Tie it snugly but not tightly, and stop if the person has more pain, numbness, or the skin becomes pale or blue.
- 6
Apply a cold pack
Place a cold pack or wrapped ice on the area to reduce pain and swelling. Wrap it in cloth first and do not place ice directly on the skin.
- 7
Watch for shock
Look for pale, cool, clammy skin, weakness, confusion, or fainting. Keep the person warm and calm, and if they have trouble breathing, severe bleeding, or become unresponsive, follow emergency call-taker instructions.
Do NOT
- Do not move the person unless they are in immediate danger
- Do not try to straighten, push back, or “set” a broken bone
- Do not give food or drink in case surgery or urgent treatment is needed
- Do not tie splints or bandages so tightly that blood flow is reduced
- Do not put ice directly on bare skin
Afterwards
Keep the injured area supported and the person warm while waiting for medical help. Even if the injury seems minor, arrange medical assessment as soon as possible because some fractures and circulation problems are not obvious at first.
Sources
- [1]First Aid Steps — American Red Cross
- [2]Broken bone or fracture — NHS
- [3]Injuries and violence — World Health Organization
Printed from HealthPulse.cc — first-aid education only, not a substitute for training or professional emergency care. Always call your local emergency number first.
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