First Aid For Bone / Joint / Muscle Injuries

Bone, joint and muscle injuries are common, especially among athletes and the elderly. It can be difficult to determine if an injury is a fracture, sprain, or strain so treat all injuries as severe until proven otherwise. Here's some more information that should help you identify the injury and administer first aid:
- A rupture is a complete tearing of a ligament, tendon or muscle.
- Bruises are swelling, pain and bleeding below the skin, resulting from a direct blow to the area. Discoloration from bleeding under skin can last for days and change colors with time.
- Hematomas arise when large amounts of blood collect under the skin because of tissue injury damage.
- With Open Fractures, the broken bone comes through the skin.
- With a Closed Fractures, the skin over the broken bone remains intact. An x-ray is needed to determine if a fracture has occurred.
- Sprains and Strains are ligament and tendon injuries that occur more often than fractures.
- Sprains occur at joints from a twisting injury causing ligament(s) to partially or completely tear or overstretch. An x-ray may be needed to determine if a fracture or sprain exists. Treat as a Fracture until confirmed.
- Strains are a tearing or overstretching of a muscle. They typically occur near where muscle tapers into a tendon and connects to a bone.

Fractures

Signs & Symptoms:
- Almost immediate swelling and bruising of a bone area
- Inability to normally move affected area
- Pain and tenderness over bone
- Deformity
- Exposed bone ends
- Do not force anyone to use a painful body part.
- Do not straighten a misshapen bone.
- Do not place ice/cold pack directly on skin.
- Do not move victim if neck or spine injury is suspected, unless necessary.
- Do not move until injury has been immobilized.
- Do not remove shoes, boots, or clothes around a possible fracture.
- Splinting is unnecessary if victim can give the broken bone sufficient support and immobility.
- Do not splint a possible fractured bone if doing so causes pain.

Splinting
You can learn different splinting techniques in a first aid course. Below are some of the basics of splinting you can use if help is not on the way and moving is necessary.
- Support both sides of the fracture when you lift the fractured limb into the splint. If, for example, you use a newspaper to splint a fractured forearm, be sure to extend the newspaper from the hand to the elbow so that it includes the joint above and below the fracture site.
- Always check circulation of the injured extremity before and after splinting. Note the color of the skin beforehand.
- A splint is probably too tight if the color of the skin changes. Loosen the splint ties until the color improves. If the victim complains of numbness or if swelling occurs, loosen the splint.
- Get medical attention immediately.

Closed Fracture
(Broken bone doesn't break skin)
- Call for medical help if the bone is abnormally bent.
- Stabilize the injured area in position found. Splint if necessary.
- Apply cold pack (mixture ice/water) through a barrier directly to area for up to 20 minutes or until uncomfortable.
- Elevate the injured area if it can be immobilized and does not cause more pain.
- Get medical attention.

Open Fracture
(Broken bone breaks skin)
- Call for medical help.
- If necessary, control Bleeding by applying continuous pressure above the fracture site.
- Cover open wound with dry sterile dressing.
- Stabilize the injured area in position found. Splint if necessary.
- Monitor and treat for Shock if present.

Sprains / Strains
(Joint Injury / Muscle Injury)

Signs & Symptoms:
- Swelling and bruising can develop immediately or with time
- Able to use injured part BUT painful
- Pain, soreness, tenderness
- Seek medical help if unable to bear own weight or if you suspect Fracture.
- If necessary, control Bleeding by applying continuous firm pressure above the injured site. Cover with sterile dressing.
- Stabilize the injured area in position found. Splint if necessary
- Apply the RICE guidelines: Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate. Ice is a cold pack (mixture ice/water) through a barrier directly to area for up to 20 minutes or until uncomfortable. Reusable gel packs do not cool as well.