Immobilize common muscle, bone and joint injuries:

• Anatomic splint - the person body is the splint .For example, an arm can be splinted to the chest or an injured leg to the uninjured leg

• Soft splint - soft materials such as a folded blanket, towel, pillow or folded triangular bandage can be splint materials

• Rigid splints - boards, folded magazines or metal strips that do not have any sharp edges can serve as splints

• The ground - an injured leg may be immobilized by being stretched out on the ground

Arm injuries

• leave the arm in the position in which it was found or in the position in which the victim is holding it

• place a triangular bandage under the injured arm and over the uninjured shoulder to form a sling

• tie the ends of the sling at the side of the neck. Place gauze pad under the knots to make it more comfortable for the victim

• secure the arm to the chest with a folded triangular bandage

Leg injuries

• immobilize an injured leg by binding it to the uninjured leg:

• place several folded triangular bandage above and below the body area

• place the uninjured body part next to the injured body area

• tie triangular bandages securely with knots

Foot injuries

• immobilize the ankle and foot using a soft splint such as a pillow or blanket.

• DO NOT remove the victim’s shoes

• place several folded triangular bandages above and below the injured area

• gently wrap a soft object around the injured area

• tie bandages securely with knots

Hand and finger injuries

• for a possible fractured or dislocated finger tape the injured finger to the finger next to it

Open fractures

An open fracture occurs when a broken bone tears through the skin and surrounding soft tissue.

• summon EMS personnel

• place sterile dressing around the open fracture as would be done for an embedded object

• bandage the dressing in place around the fracture

• do not move the exposed bone and limb. This may cause the victim great pain and may worsen the injury.

Heat-related emergencies

Heat-related emergencies are progressive conditions caused by overexposure to heat. If not recognized early they may progress to heat stroke, life-threatening condition.

They are three types of heat-related emergencies:

• Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that usually occur in the legs and abdomen. Heat cramp are the least severe of the heat-related emergencies

• Heat exhaustion-is an early indicator that the body’s cooling system is becoming overwhelmed. Signs and symptoms include:

-cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin

-headache, nausea, dizziness

-weakness, exhaustion

-heavy sweating

• Heat stroke is when the body’s systems are overwhelmed. Signs and symptoms of heat stroke include :

-red, hot dry skin

-changes in the level of consciousness

-vomiting

To care for heat-related emergencies:

• move the victim to a cool place

• loosen tight clothing

• apply cool, wet towels to the skin

• fan the victim

• if the victim is conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink

• If the victim refuses water ,vomits or start to lose consciousness :

• summon EMS

• place the victim on side

• continue to cool the victim by using ice or cold pack on wrists , ankles , groin or neck and in the armpits

• continue to check for breathing and a pulse