1. First aid for fracture
-Anushka Ninama

2. What is fracture?
• A broken or cracked bone
• Occurs when pressure is
applied to bone
• Occurs with / without
displacement of bone
fragments

3. Causes of fracture
•Direct force
•Indirect force
•Force of muscular
action
•Force of ligaments

4. Types
• Open fracture: Skin breaks
causing open wound

5. •Closed fracture: Skin not
broken

6. • Complicated fractures: Damage
of adjacent organs

7. • Stress fracture: Hairline crack due
to repeated stress

8. • Greenstick fracture: In
children's flexible bones

9. Classification

10. Symptoms
•Severe pain
•Difficulty in movement
•Swelling/ bruising /
bleeding
•Deformity / abnormal
twist of limb
•Tenderness on applying

11. First-aid
•Depends on type &
location of fracture

12. For open fractures
•Control bleeding
before treatment
•Rinse and dress the
wound

13. For open / closed fractures
• Check the breathing
• Calm the person
• Examine for other injuries
• Immobilize the broken
wound
• Apply ice to reduce pain /
swelling
• Consult a doctor

14. Using bandages
•Do not apply over the
fracture
•Bandaging should be
fairly firm
•Place padding
material

15. Using splints
• Rigid enough
• Wide enough
• Should be long enough
• Well padded
• Best applied over the
clothing
• Raise the injured part

18. DO NOT
•Massage the affected
area
•Straighten the broken
bone
•Move without support to
broken bone
•Move joints above /

19. Prevention
•Wear protective pads /
helmets when driving
•Teach children / practice,
safe habits

20. Aims of first-aid
•To prevent further
damage
•To reduce pain
• To make patient
comfortable
•To get medical aid at

21. Skull fracture
• Damage to bone may not
appear to be significant
• Fracture crown of the skull
caused by a direct blow
• Fracture base of the skull
caused by indirect force

23. Recognition
•Wound or bruise on the
head.
•Soft area or depression
on the scalp.
•Bruising or swelling
behind one ear.
•Bruising around one or
both eyes.

24. •Clear fluid or watery
blood coming from the
nose or an ear.
•Blood in the white of
the eye.
•Distortion or lack of
symmetry of the head or
face.
•Progressive

25. Your aims
•To maintain an open
airway.
•To arrange urgent
removal of the casualty
to hospital.

26. Treatment
If the casualty is conscious:
• Help them to lie down.
• Do not turn the head in case
there is a neck injury.
• Control any bleeding from the
scalp by applying pressure
around the wound.
• Look for and treat any other

27. •If there is discharge
from an ear, cover the
ear with a sterile
dressing or clean pad,
lightly secured with a
bandage. Do not plug
the ear.
•Monitor and record
vital signs - level of
response, pulse, and

28. If the casualty is unconscious:
• Open the airway using the jaw
thrust method and check for
breathing
• Be prepared to give chest
compressions and rescue
breaths if needed.
• If the position in which the
casualty was found prevents
maintenance of an open airway
or you fail to open it using the

29. Spine fracture
• # Spine is very serious
injury.
• Damage to the spinal cord
can result in loss of power
and sensation in the parts
below the injured area.
• A mild injury can be made
worse by incorrect

32. RECOGNITION
• Casualty may inform that
tenderness around the affected
part of the back.
• Can feel shooting pains or
electric shocks in limbs and
around the back.
• Is unable to feel or move legs
if the injury is in the lower
back or to move any limb at all

33. Treatment
• Advice the casualty not to
move.
• Support the head in the neutral
position by placing your hands
over his ears, and use rolled-up
coats or blankets to protect
and splint the head, neck and
shoulders.
• Cover the casualty with a
blanket.

36. IMPORTANT
• Do not move the casualty
unless life is in danger.
• Unconscious casualty with
spinal injury must be placed in
the RECOVERY POSITION,
to protect the airway.
• The position should be modified
to keep the head and trunk
aligned at all times.

37. Jaw fracture
•Jaw # are usually the
result of direct force.
•A blow to one side of
the jaw can cause a #
on the other side. These
#s can cause breathing
difficulties.

38. RECOGNITION
• The casualty finds it
difficulty to speak, chew or
swallow without increased
pain.
• There may be dribbling and
blood stained saliva if there is
a mouth wound.
• Displaced teeth in the mouth.
• Swelling and /or unevenness

39. Treatment
• Carefully remove any
loose objects such as
dentures or displaced
teeth. Keep the teeth safe
and give them to the
driver/doctor.
• Support the injured jaw
till medical aid reaches

40. IMPORTANT
If the casualty is seriously
injured or unconscious but
breathing normally, Place
the casualty in RECOVERY
POSITION with the
injured side down and a
soft pad under the head to
keep the weight off the

41. COLLAR BONE
•# collar bone (clavicle)
is due to a fall on to an
out-stretched hand
where the force is
transmitted along the
forearm and upper arm
to the collar bone.

42. RECOGNITION
• The casualty supports her
arm on the injured side and
inclining the head towards
the injury to relieve the
pain.
• The casualty is reluctant to
move the arm on the injured
side.

44. Treatment
• Help the casualty position
his arm on the injured side
so that his fingertips are
almost resting on the
opposite shoulder.
• Support the arm in an
elevation sling and place
soft padding between upper
arm and chest.

45. •Secure the limb to
the casualty’s chest
by applying a broadfold bandage over
the sling and right
around the body.
•Take the casualty to
the hospital.

46. Upper limb fracture
• Pain, tenderness, inability
to use the arm, deformity,
swelling and possible
bruising.
• The casualty is probably
supporting the hand,
forearm, and elbow of the
injured arm with the other

48. Treatment
• If possible gently bend the
casualty’s arm at the elbow
so that his forearm is
across his chest and place
soft padding between the #
site and the body.
• Support the arm with an
arm sling.

49. •For additional support,
secure the casualty’s arm
to his trunk by applying
a broad-fold bandage
right around his arm and
trunk.. Avoid # site.
•Take the casualty to the
hospital.

50. IMPORTANT
• Never bend the arm
forcefully.
• Check the circulation after
bandaging by looking at
the fingers; Relax the sling
if necessary.

51. If the arm can not be bent
•Help the casualty to
lie down with his arm
by his side or wherever
it is most comfortable
for him.

52. •Carefully place soft
padding between the
injured limb and the
casualty’s body and
apply three broad-fold
bandages around the
arm and the body,
avoiding the # site.

53. Ribs fracture
•Broken ribs are splinted
naturally because they
are attached to the rest
of the rib cage.
•Immobilizing the only
upper limb on the
affected side of the body
to help relieve pain is

54. RECOGNITION
• Features of # can be noticed.
• The casualty may tell you that
he feels very sharp pain in his
side, worsened by deep breaths
or coughing.
• Highly tender area around the
affected ribs.
• He can hear a crackling
sound.

55. Treatment
•Help the casualty
to sit down and
support the arm on
his injured side in
an arm sling.

56. •If breathing is
affected
•Help the casualty
into a half sitting
position so that he is
leaning towards his
injured side.
•Support the arm on
the injured side with

57. IMPORTANT
•Chest injuries
involving damage to
several ribs or the
lungs are more serious
and require urgent
medical attention
because there may be

58. Pelvis fracture
• #Pelvis must be handled with
great care because there may be
internal injuries.
• The casualty may tell that she is
unable to move the lower part of
her body without extreme pain
and that the area around pelvis is
tender and uncomfortable.
• Unable to stand.
• If # is complicated, urine may be
blood stained or signs of internal

60. Treatment
• Help the casualty to lie on his
back with legs straight or with
knees slightly bent with a cushion
under them, the most comfortable
position.
• Place some soft padding between
the knees and ankles.
• Tie the feet and ankles together
with a narrow –fold bandage, and
place a broad-fold bandage around

62. Lower limb fracture
• Pain, swelling, loss of
mobility and shock.
• If # is below the knee – the
foot may have fallen to one
side although knee is
straight.
• If # is above the knee the
limb may look shorter or the

63. Treatment
•Steady and support
the limb if necessary
get an assistant and
treat the wounds.

68. •Holding the ankle and
foot, apply gentle
traction, carefully
pulling in the long axis
of the limb to bring it
into its normal line.

69. •Continue supporting
and using the natural
hollows, place
bandages at the knees,
above and below the
#site and under
ankles.

70. •Bring the sound limb
alongside and place soft
padding between the legs
so that bandages do not
displace the bones.
•Tie the knots on the
uninjured side, starting
at the ankles, knee and
below the # site.

71. Important
•When traction is
being applied, if any
resistance is felt,
stop immediately.
Never leave a
casualty’s lower limb

72. Femur fracture
• Steady and support the limb and
treat any wounds.
• Apply and maintain gentle
traction by holding the casualty’s
knee. Bring the injured leg into a
straight line by pulling in the long
axis of the limb from the ankle.
• Support the injured leg at the
ankle and using the natural
hollows gently place the bandages
under the casualty’s legs at the
knees, above and below the # and
under the ankles.

75. Knee fracture
• The knee cap can be broken by
a direct blow or split by
violent muscular pull from
thigh muscles.
• All knee injuries are painful
and it may be difficult to tell
whether a person has a broken
knee cap or has damaged
cartilage or ligament.

77. Recognition
• The general features of # are
present.
• The casualty may tell that the
knee is extremely painful, and
unable to lift the leg or foot
off the ground.
• You may notice that the knee
is bent and any attempt to
straighten it increases the

78. Treatment
• Help the casualty lie down and
steady the leg in the position the
casualty finds the most
comfortable. Place a small pillow
in the hollow under the knee and
around the knee.
• Bandaging is not essential but the
casualty may find it more
comfortable. Bandage the knee
with cotton wool padding and

79. Important
•Do not force the
leg straight.

80. Dislocation
• A dislocation is a separation
of two bones where they meet
at a joint. (Joints are areas
where two bones come
together.) A dislocated bone
is no longer in its normal
position, which may result in
damage to ligaments, nerves,
and blood vessels.

81. Dislocation
• A dislocation is a separation
of two bones where they meet
at a joint. (Joints are areas
where two bones come
together.) A dislocated bone is
no longer in its normal
position, which may result in
damage to ligaments, nerves,
and blood vessels.

82. Joints
• Junction of two or more
bones
• Immovable joints ; fused
together
• Movable joints 3 types• 1) ball and socket joints

83. Considerations
•It may be hard to tell a
dislocated bone from a
broken bone. Both are
emergency situations
and require the same
first aid treatment.

84. • Most dislocations, if treated
early, will not result in
permanent injury.
• Injuries to the surrounding
ligaments generally take 3 - 6
weeks to heal. Sometimes,
surgery to repair a torn
ligament is needed.
• Injuries to nerves and blood
vessels may result in more
long-term or permanent

85. Important
• Once a joint has been
dislocated, it is more likely
to happen again. Follow-up
with an orthopedic surgeon
is recommended after a
dislocation.

86. Causes
•Dislocations are
usually caused by a
sudden impact to the
joint. This usually
occurs following a
blow, fall, or other
trauma.

87. Symptoms
• Accompanied by numbness or
tingling at the joint or
beyond it
• Intensely painful, especially
if you try to use the joint or
bear weight on it
• Limited in movement
• Swollen or bruised
• Visibly out of place,

88. •
Treatment
check the airway, breathing, and
circulation. If necessary, begin
rescue breathing , CPR , or
bleeding control.
• Do not move the person if you
think that the head, back, or leg
has been injured.
• If the skin is broken, take steps
to prevent infection. Do not
blow on the wound. Rinse the
area gently to remove obvious

89. • Splint or sling the injury
in the position in which
you found it. Do not move
the joint. Be sure to
immobilize the area above
and below the injured
joint.
• Check the blood
circulation.
• Apply ice packs to ease

90. Do not
• move the person unless the
injury has been completely
immobilized.
• move a person with an
injured hip, pelvis, or
upper leg unless it is
absolutely necessary. If
you are the only rescuer

91. Continued …….
• attempt to straighten a
misshapen bone or joint or
to change its position.
• test a misshapen bone or
joint for loss of function.
• give the person anything
by mouth.

92. Prevention
• Preventing injuries in children:
• Create a safe environment around
your home.
• Pay careful attention to
preventing falls by gating
stairways and keeping windows
closed and locked.
• Supervise children carefully. There
is no substitute for close
supervision no matter how safe the
environment or situation appears
to be.

93. • Preventing dislocations in
adults:
• Avoid falls by not standing
on chairs, countertops, or
other unstable objects.
• Eliminate throw rugs,
especially for the elderly.
• Wear protective gear when
participating in contact
sports.

94. Shoulder dislocation
•The shoulders are the
most common joint in the
body to dislocate. The
arm is moved away from
the body (abducted) and
externally rotated
(turning the forearm,

96. Symptoms
• The main symptom of a
shoulder dislocation is severe
pain at the shoulder joint.
• The patient will have great
difficulty moving your arm
even a little bit.
• If the shoulder is touched from
the side, it feels mushy, as if
the underlying bone is gone

99. Treatment
• If a sling is not available,
rig one by tying a long piece
of cloth in a circle (a bed
sheet or towel may do
nicely).
• A pillow placed between
the arm and body may also
help support the injured

101. Hip dislocation
•Causes
•High-speed motor vehicle
collisions (MVCs) are by
far the leading cause of
hip dislocations. Falls
from significant height
and sports-related injury
are also among the top
causes.

103. Recognition
•Posterior: The hip is
flexed, internally
rotated, and adducted.
•Anterior: The hip is
minimally flexed,
externally rotated and
markedly abducted

105. • Patients with a hip dislocation
have severely limited range of
motion.
• movements are extremely
painful & restricted
•

107. Treatment
• Don't delay medical
care.
• Don't move the joint.
• Put ice on the injured
joint

108. Elbow Dislocation
•The elbow joint, formed
where these 3 bones meet,
becomes dislocated, or
out of joint.

109. Causes
•usually a fall

110. Symptoms
• Severe pain in the elbow,
swelling, and inability to
bend your arm are all signs of
an elbow dislocation.
• In some cases, you may lose
feeling in your hand or no
longer have a pulse (can't
feel your heartbeat in your
wrist).
• Arteries and nerves run by
your elbow, so it is possible

112. Treatment
•put ice on the elbow
•check pulse.
•Check If any feeling of
numbness results, see a
doctor immediately.

113. Sprains
•The ligaments are
anchored to bone on
each side of the joint. If
a ligament is stretched
or torn, the injury is
called a sprain.

114. Symptoms
•Pain
•Swelling
•Bruise
•Difficulty to move the
joint

115. Treatment
• RICE
• Rest the injured part. Pain is
the body's signal to not move an
injury.
• Ice the injury. This will limit
the swelling and help with the
spasm.
• Compress the injured area. This
again, limits the swelling. Be
careful not to apply a wrap so
tightly that it might act as a
tourniquet and cut off the blood
supply.
• Elevate the injured part. This

119. Strains
• A strain occurs when the muscle
tendon unit is stretched or torn.
The most common reason is the
overuse and stretching of the
muscle. The damage may occur in
three areas:
The muscle itself may tear.
The area where the muscle and
tendon blend can tear.
The tendon may tear partially or

120. Symptoms
• Pain
• Spasm
• Swelling

121. Treatment
• RICE

122. Cramps
• Cramp is a sudden ,
involuntary & painful
contraction of muscle or
group of muscles.

124. Causes
• Poor muscle co-ordination
during exercise
• Chilling following or during
exercise
• Loss of salts in sweating
• Diarrhoea or persistent
vomiting
• During sleep
• Anaerobic metabolism of

125. Symptoms
• Pain
• Feeling of tightness in the
affected area
• Contracted muscles cannot
relax

126. Treatment
• Straighten the affected part of
the body
• Massage