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First Aid: Broken Bones

Use splints to stabilize a broken bone.

You can assume someone has a broken bone if pain lasts more than a few minutes, moving the injured area is difficult, or there is swelling in the injured area.

  • If you have to transport the victim a long distance, it’s best to immobilize the joint above and below the break to prevent further injury and relieve pain. Don’t try to straighten the limb—splint it the way you found it.
  • For a broken foot, do not remove the shoe. Tie a pillow or thick padding around the foot over the shoe.
  • To splint a broken leg:
    • Place a blanket or some other type of thick padding between the legs.
    • Bind the injured leg to the uninjured one with strips of cloth.
    • Bind the legs together snugly at several places above and below the painful area.
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