First Aid International

Sprains, Strains and Fractures

Soft tissue injuries

  1. Sprains involve injury to the ligaments and surrounding soft tissues
  2. Strains involve injury to the muscles and tendons.

Treatment

  1. Rest
  2. Ice
  3. Compression
  4. Elevation.

If in doubt as to whether the casualty has a sprain, strain, fracture or dislocation – always treat the injury as a fracture and never apply a compression bandage over a suspected broken bone.

Management

REST - Decreases the pain.

ICE - This applied to the injury for no longer than 10 minutes at a time. Ensure there is a barrier between the ice and the skin. Ice helps to control the swelling and relieve pain.

COMPRESSION - A firm supportive figure 8 bandage is used to give even pressure over the injured area.

ELEVATION - This reduces swelling as it slows the bleeding.

Fractures

The term fracture is used to describe a break in the continuity of a bone. The fracture could resemble a crack, a chip or a complete break of the bone. There are also different types of fractures:

  1. open fracture
  2. closed fracture
  3. complicated fracture

With an open fracture, the skin around the bone is broken and the bone may be protruding. There is great risk of infection with this fracture. With a closed fracture, the bone has broken under the skin. there may also be considerable bleeding under the skin and possible damage to muscles, vessels and soft tissues.

When you suspect a casualty has a complicated fracture, this means there is another associated injury along with the fracture. That damage may include nerve, blood vessels and vital organs, eg when a casualty has a broken rib it may puncture the lung and that is the complication to the fracture.

Signs and Symptoms

  1. Pain at the site of the injury
  2. Swelling
  3. Tenderness
  4. Loss of movement or feeling
  5. Deformity
  6. Shock.

Management

  1. DRABC
  2. Control external bleeding and protect the wound
  3. Ask the casualty not to move, make them comfortable
  4. Avoid twisting of the neck or spine, maintain the alignment of the spine
  5. Check for circulation into the limb beyond the facture
  6. Handle gently, Do Not attempt to straighten fractured limbs
  7. Immobilise the fracture with pillows and blankets or use splints if necessary
  8. Seek medical assistance for transportation of the casualty
  9. Manage shock.

Contact First Aid International - 1300 36 56 75

Brisbane 07 3513 3255 - Sydney 02 9204 7777, Sydney Fax 02 9806 9789 - Melbourne 03 9018 9673 - Perth 08 6363 5303 Gold Coast 07 5630 1148

Head Office Fax: 07 3352 3631
Head Office Postal: PO Box 275 Kelvin Grove QLD 4059
Head Office Email: headoffice@firstaidinternational.com.au

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