First aid for limb fractures. Fractures: who will provide first aid Measures to provide assistance for fractures

First aid for fractures is a stage on which the effectiveness of treatment and a person’s ability to restore motor activity subsequently depend. And in some cases, even the life of the victim depends on how quickly and correctly first aid is provided.

General principles of first aid

Regardless of the location of the fracture and the severity of the injury, the following rules must be observed:

Features of first aid for joint fractures

Fractures of articular structures can rightfully be considered one of the most dangerous in terms of consequences for further motor activity of a person and his ability to work. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, such a fracture can be open, closed, with or without displacement, and may also be accompanied by crushing of soft tissues.

Most often, fractures of the joints of the limbs occur, and the following symptoms are observed:

To properly provide first aid for joint fractures, it is very important to fix the limb in a stationary position. This will help avoid further damage during transportation and prevent bone fragments from tearing blood vessels and soft tissues.

The technique of immobilizing a broken joint differs from immobilization for a bone fracture, and is a difficult task for a non-specialist. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures that will help wait for the arrival of an emergency ambulance or transport the patient to a hospital, where he will receive qualified assistance:

apply a cold compress to the injured joint (if you have ice on hand, be sure to wrap it in several layers of cloth);
give the injured limb an elevated position;
in case of a fracture of the knee or hip joint, place the victim on his back, placing a roll of rolled up clothing or a blanket under the knee of the injured leg;
in case of a fracture of the elbow or shoulder joint, a scarf or a piece of gauze is tied to the forearm, the forearm is brought to the body, after which the free ends of the fabric are tied around the victim’s waist so that the forearm is rigidly and motionlessly fixed.

Important: only a specialist can differentiate a joint dislocation from a fracture. Therefore, the presence of pain in the joint that occurs after an injury is enough to begin providing first aid to the victim.

Features of providing first aid for head fractures

When the bones of the facial or cerebral part of the skull are fractured, the brain is often at risk, so the main attention when providing first aid should be aimed at reducing the likelihood of bleeding in the brain and its swelling.

Important: severe head injuries are often combined with fractures of the cervical spine, therefore, when assisting the victim, immobilize his neck using an improvised collar placed around the neck - a piece of cardboard, fabric folded several times, etc. so that the “collar” captures the chin in front and the entire occipital region behind.

Features of first aid for spinal fractures

Spinal fractures are among the most dangerous injuries in terms of prognosis for the recovery of the victim. Therefore, the correct provision of first aid for injuries to the spinal column is an event of critical importance.

You can understand that the spine is damaged by one or more of the following signs:

To properly provide first aid for spinal fractures, the main condition remains immobilization of the victim’s entire body. This will prevent displacement of the vertebrae and the possible consequences associated with this (compression or rupture of the spinal cord, damage to arteries and nerve fibers).

Immobilization is carried out in the following sequence:

any rigid mobile surface is prepared (several boards tied together, a door removed from its hinges, etc.) that will serve as a stretcher;
2 rolls are prepared from folded clothes, blankets, etc., which, after transferring the patient to a stretcher, will be placed under his neck and under his knees;
to transfer the victim onto a stretcher, at least 2 people are required: one supports the injured person by the shoulders and head, the second - by the pelvic area and legs;
transferring is carried out by command: both people providing assistance simultaneously lift the victim from the ground/floor and lower him onto the stretcher with his back down;
the patient is placed with bolsters under his neck and knees;
The entire body of the victim is fixed with belts, ropes or other available devices so that his position on the stretcher is motionless during transportation.

Important: in case of a spinal fracture, any movement of the victim without prior immobilization threatens his life!

Features of first aid for open fractures

An open fracture is a violation of the integrity of a bone or joint, in which individual parts of the bones damage the soft tissue and come out. From a diagnostic point of view, this is perhaps the “easiest” injury, the identification of which does not require special knowledge and skills. But as for the prognosis for recovery, everything is not so simple: an open wound becomes a gateway for infections that literally surround a person.

In addition, if a fracture occurs in close proximity to a large blood vessel, there is a high risk of damage and bleeding. In such a situation, minutes count - the life of the victim depends on the correct provision of first aid for an open fracture.

Therefore, when providing first aid, the following rules must be observed:

the wound and surrounding skin must be cleaned of contaminants using cotton wool or a bandage, then rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide, apply iodine to the skin around the wound and cover the area with a sterile cloth;
if a large amount of blood is released from the wound on the injured limb, it is necessary to apply a tourniquet above the bleeding site, placing a note under it indicating the time of application of the tourniquet; if it is impossible to quickly deliver the victim to a medical facility, make sure that every 15-20 minutes you loosen the tourniquet for 5-10 minutes (depending on the intensity of the bleeding) and apply it again, constantly repeating these cycles until the doctors arrive;
for open fractures with external bleeding in an area where a tourniquet cannot be applied (pelvic bones, ribs), tightly apply a sterile cotton swab or bandage to the wound and hold it with your hand.

Important: in case of fractures, regardless of their location and type, the following actions are strictly prohibited:

trying to correct bone or joint deformities on your own - this can cause painful shock in the victim;
carry out pain relief using any drugs containing aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) - this is fraught with the risk of bleeding;
Trying to give the victim water or give him an anesthetic or other medicine if he is unconscious or in a clouded state of consciousness (slow or absent reaction to the environment, inability to focus his eyes, incoherent slurred speech, etc.) - this can cause blockage of the airways.

A fracture is a bone injury that disrupts its integrity.

Fractures occur due to some diseases associated with a decrease in bone strength, but most often they are traumatic in nature and occur due to falls, traffic accidents, or other sudden effects of significant mechanical force on the bone.

There are two types of fractures:

Closed, in which when the bone is damaged, the skin is not damaged;
Open, characterized by skin rupture, severe bleeding and a high risk of infection.

Symptoms of fractures

The main symptoms of closed fractures are:

Severe or shooting pain in the bone area;
Distinct bone deformity or abnormal mobility of any segment of the limb;
Severe pain when moving or limitation of movement.

Open fractures are characterized by additional symptoms - wounds with arterial, venous, mixed or capillary bleeding, which can be expressed to varying degrees. In this case, the broken bone is usually exposed to a greater or lesser extent.

Most often, the condition of victims with a closed fracture is satisfactory, while multiple open fractures may be accompanied by traumatic shock.

First aid for closed fractures

First aid for closed fractures is to fix the limb. At the same time, the pain of the victim’s sensations will depend on its quality.

A splint is applied to the damaged bone according to the general rules. At the same time, you should not wrap the damaged area very tightly, so as not to disrupt active blood circulation. In cases where there are no means for applying a splint, the injured arm can be “hung” on a scarf, and the injured leg can be bandaged to the healthy leg.

Also, when providing first aid for fractures, ice should be applied to the injury site. This will help reduce swelling and reduce pain and the likelihood of developing a hematoma.

First aid for open fractures

First of all, when providing first aid for open fractures, it is necessary to treat the skin around the wound with an antiseptic solution and apply a sterile bandage.

Since an open fracture of a limb is usually accompanied by profuse bleeding, it may be necessary to apply a hemostatic tourniquet.

When providing first aid, one should not try to completely correct the existing deformities of the limb, much less reduce bone fragments protruding on the surface into the depth of the wound, so as not to infect the wound, and also not to damage the nerves and blood vessels and not to cause a new attack of pain in the victim.

First aid for broken ribs

Signs of a rib fracture include pain when moving, coughing, breathing or sneezing.

When providing first aid for fractured ribs, to reduce shortness of breath, the victim should be placed in a semi-sitting position. Typically, a broken rib without internal damage does not lead to serious health problems and the victim can be taken to a hospital or emergency room by car.

If you have the following symptoms indicating damage to internal organs, you should immediately call an ambulance:

Difficulty breathing that feels like suffocation;
Discharge of red foamy blood;
Increased thirst and disorientation.

First aid for a spinal fracture

A spinal fracture is one of the most dangerous injuries, since as a result it can damage the spinal cord, which leads to the development of paralysis of the legs or all limbs. Symptoms of a spinal fracture include severe pain in the spine and an inability to turn or bend your back.

When providing first aid for a spinal fracture, the victim should be laid on his back on a hard surface. If the victim is lying on his back during a spinal injury, he should not be lifted by his legs and shoulders so as not to damage the spinal cord. In this case, a board or other hard surface should be carefully placed under the victim, without lifting him from the floor. You can also turn him onto his stomach, making sure that the torso does not bend when lifting.

Transportation to the hospital is allowed only on a solid stretcher, and any available materials can be used for this purpose - a door, a wooden board or boards.

First aid for fractures of the lower extremities

Fractures of the lower leg and ankle are the most common fractures of the lower extremities. As a rule, swelling increases in the area of the fracture immediately after the injury, and the fracture itself is accompanied by severe pain.

When providing first aid, the injured leg must be placed in the correct position by first removing the shoes.

For immobilization, you can use any available means - ski poles, boards or rods, which are placed on the inner and outer surface of the leg. In this case, two joints should be fixed at the same time - ankle and knee.

A knee fracture is extremely painful and is often accompanied by deformity. When providing first aid for fractures, do not try to straighten the knee by force. The victim must be placed in the most comfortable position for him and the fixation strengthened by placing blanket or fabric rolls around the injured leg.

First aid for fractures of the upper limbs

Signs of an arm fracture include pain along the bone, an unnatural shape of the limb, swelling, and unusual mobility in places where there is no joint.

To provide first aid, you should apply splints or “hang” your hand on a scarf to your neck, and then bandage it to your body. You can also apply cold to the injury site.

If the bones of the hand are broken, to provide first aid, you should bandage it to a wide splint that covers the hand from the middle of the forearm to the end of the fingers. The fingers should remain relaxed and slightly bent, and a wad of cotton wool or a bandage should first be placed in the palm of the injured hand.

First aid for jaw fractures

A jaw fracture is usually accompanied by a change in the contours of the soft tissues of the face and difficulty speaking. Typically, when providing first aid for a broken jaw, a bandage is not placed around the head. In case of such a fracture, the victim must be taken to the hospital, while the damaged jaw should be supported with cupped palms.

First aid for a broken collarbone

Signs of a clavicle fracture are acute pain in the area and pronounced swelling.

To provide first aid, place a small wad of gauze, cotton wool or some soft material in the armpit and bandage the arm bent at the elbow at a right angle to the body. You can also put ice or a towel soaked in cold water on the damaged area.

Despite the fact that our bones are strong and can withstand a certain pressure, their fractures, i.e. damage is very common. Such violations of the integrity of bone tissue can vary depending on the complexity - complete or incomplete, closed and open, with or without changes in the form of displacement. If a problem arises, you cannot do without the help of doctors, so you should contact a traumatologist as soon as possible. in case of fractures, it will help prevent complications and improve the condition of the victim before the doctors arrive.

How to determine whether a bone is broken or not

The speed of detection of a fracture is the key to proper treatment and quick recovery. Such damage may be indicated by:

intense pain in the area of injury;
violation of the joint shape or bone structure;
loss of limb functionality;
excessive mobility of the arms or legs;
audibility of crunching in bone fragments during palpation.

There are also external signs of damage. These include swelling in the soft tissues located above the fracture, as well as the appearance of hemorrhages. If the damage is open, the wound will be lacerated and bone fragments can be found in it.

If a child is injured, it is necessary to ask him to move a limb or finger. If there is pain or difficulty making a movement, a fracture is confirmed. However, you can reliably verify this type of damage using x-ray results.

First aid for open and closed fractures

If you meet a victim with a fracture, then you need to take three main actions:

For complete immobilization, fixation is performed by applying a splint or splint. Cardboard and flat boards can be used. The splint is not applied directly to the skin. There should be at least one layer of fabric or other soft material between it and the body.
The bandage should be secured with a bandage.
If possible, apply ice to the damaged area.

If damage to the limbs occurs, the bandage for fixation should be applied to cover 2 or more joints on both sides of the fracture site. If the anatomical features do not allow the installation of a splint, then the bone is fixed to the body, as, for example, if the collarbone or finger is damaged.

Victims with a hip fracture are not moved, but left in a horizontal position. Problems with the pelvic bone require placing the person on his back in the frog position. If the ribs are injured, then bandage the chest with a height at the level of exhalation.

A spinal fracture becomes a serious problem. In this case, it is necessary to lay the victim with his back on a leveled plane and immobilize him. When already in a horizontal position, the board is slipped under the person without moving the body.

In case of an open fracture, it is important to comply with the following conditions:

you cannot insert bone fragments yourself;
the wound is treated with an antiseptic;
if intense bleeding is observed, it is stopped by applying a tourniquet;
a sterile bandage is placed on the wound;
the damaged area is immobilized.

It is sometimes difficult for young patients to tell where they feel pain. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully examine the condition of the victim and identify the location of the fracture.

The sequence of action is similar to that for injuries to adult patients. Since they are not very resistant to pain, after immobilizing the damaged part of the body, you should immediately consult a doctor.

First aid for sprained limbs

Appears as a result of injury to the limbs, due to a sharp muscle contraction, after physical impact, or when parents excessively stretch the child’s arm. The injury is accompanied by a specific pop and the appearance of pain with limited movement. Articular deformation is observed, swelling appears.

In the process of providing assistance you need to:

Immobilize the limb using a splint on the joint.
Apply cold, excluding heat and compresses.
Pain relief with an analgesic.
Treat the bruise with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

The main condition for effective treatment of a fracture is prompt consultation with a doctor for medical help. After the manipulation, medications with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and decongestant effects are prescribed. At the next stage, the patient is often sent home, where folk remedies can be taken to speed up recovery.

Common Mistakes

There is an important rule in providing first aid - do not harm the victim. The following mistakes should be avoided:

If an accident occurs or a person falls from a height, then you should not touch him or move him unnecessarily.
You cannot set dislocations or return bones to their original location.
When immobilizing, remember that forced straightening of the limb is not allowed.
If you don't know how to apply a tourniquet correctly, don't do it. Minor bleeding can be stopped with a tight bandage, finger compression, or tamponing. When applying a tourniquet, observe the duration of clamping.
If there is an open fracture, do not touch the bone fragments. Foreign objects should not be removed from wounds.
In case of injuries to the spine, hip bone, or skull, extreme caution should be taken.

Conclusion

Immediately after an injury, several important rules must be followed. It is important to identify a fracture in a timely manner, since often the signs can be similar to a dislocation or bruise, and several days pass before going to the hospital. It is necessary to clearly know the symptoms. Of course, its manifestation will depend on the complexity of the injury, but you should pay attention to deformation disorders, unnatural condition, excessive bone mobility, pain in the injury area and the appearance of swelling with hemorrhage.

When performing first aid procedures, it is necessary to take measures to restore integrity, stop blood loss, treat the wound with antiseptic substances and immobilize the limb. After this, the patient will need to be transported to a medical facility.

No one is immune from accidents. Injury can occur under a variety of circumstances. The main thing in such a situation is that the people nearby are provided with timely and competent first aid. In case of fractures, almost anyone who knows the main points in this matter can help the victim.

Signs of fractures

When determining the presence of a fracture, it is important to pay attention to several signs. Their presence or absence will help to understand the diagnosis:

Increasing pain when touching the affected limb or when moving it.
Impaired functions. If a leg is broken, a person will not be able to lean on it, a broken arm will not perform any actions, and if the ribs are broken, breathing will be difficult.
Deformed limbs with fractures. Often, when the bones of an arm or leg are damaged, the fragments are displaced.
The resulting mobility in a place where under normal conditions it should not exist.

If a person has suffered a fracture, it is not necessary to have all these signs. Some of these symptoms also appear with sprains and bruises.

If you are absolutely sure that this is a fracture, you should immediately begin providing first aid.

Types of fractures

The classification of fractures is quite extensive. Only a specialist can determine an accurate diagnosis. And sometimes he needs time and special equipment for this.

The following types of fractures are distinguished:

Without displacement - if the damaged bone remains in place;
With displacement - when the broken bone has changed its position;
Complete - if the bone is divided into several parts during a fracture;
Incomplete (crack) – in this case the bone simply breaks;
Open – the broken bone has come out through the skin;
Closed - during a fracture, the bone was not exposed and did not damage the skin.

Providing first aid

To prevent the broken bone from touching nearby arteries and the victim losing a large amount of blood, assistance must be provided as soon as possible, without waiting for doctors to arrive.

The first thing to do is to ensure complete rest for any type of fracture and not allow any movement of the affected part of the body.

Closed fracture

If a limb is broken, a splint must be applied. The materials you can use are boards, cardboard, and magazines rolled into a tube. The splint must be placed between at least two joints.

At the same time, it is undesirable for it to come into contact with an open area of skin. The splint is fixed along its entire length using a bandage; scarves and scarves can be an alternative.

If material that can be used as a splint is not available, the broken arm or leg can be reattached to uninjured parts of the body. For example, a broken leg - to the other leg. Or an injured finger to an adjacent finger.

The most dangerous is a spinal fracture. Every wrong move on the part of those providing assistance can make the victim disabled, and sometimes even take his life.

When the spine is damaged, a person loses feeling in his arms and legs. In this case, he must be extremely carefully placed on a flat surface, on his back, the entire body tightly secured to the surface with a bandage, and transported to the hospital as soon as possible.

Open fracture

With an open fracture, you first need to stop the bleeding, then deal with the injury itself.

If the blood comes from the capillaries, it will be enough to wash the wound with hydrogen peroxide and it will stop.

If there is bleeding from an artery, a tourniquet must be applied. The dressing is done just above the wound site, indicating the exact time of application of the tourniquet. The tourniquet is applied for a maximum of 2 hours in summer and 1.5 hours in winter, after which it is changed.

After the bleeding has stopped, treatment of the fracture itself begins.

Fractures at work

If a fracture occurs at work, it is an industrial accident. The fact of the incident must be registered by the accident commission. This commission also determines the severity of the injury.

In addition, the victim must consult a doctor to obtain a report and a certificate of incapacity for work.

Based on the certificate of incapacity for work, the company pays benefits to the injured employee in accordance with the norms of labor legislation.

Providing first aid is very important when receiving fractures. Misfortune can strike anywhere, so each of us should know the basic methods of help. Moreover, these methods do not change; they were actively used back in Soviet times and even earlier.

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