How to Treat a Broken Arm

Broken bones are a frequent occurrence. Knowing how to react when a bone is broken is a useful skill, especially around kids or sports. Taking a basic first aid class is a great way to learn more advanced skills, such as splinting broken bones. Broken arms are the easiest bones to treat, since the person can usually move themselves and can assist in the treatment. Read on to learn how to treat a broken arm.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Remain calm. Panicking will just make the situation worse. The person who broke their arm is probably in a great deal of pain, and action must be taken to get them to a hospital or doctor. Help the person in any way they ask, and take necessary steps to get them where they need to go.

2. Make the person as comfortable as possible. Get them to sit or lie down. Sometimes a person faints when they break a bone, due to shock or pain, or both. If they are already sitting or lying, they won't fall and injure themselves further.

3. Leave the arm alone if untrained in broken bone first aid. If someone else is trained, it can be placed on a flat object and wrapped, to splint it.

4. Call 911 or a doctor. If it's during office hours, calling a doctor is an option for treatment. Otherwise, just head to the emergency room at the nearest hospital or call an ambulance.

5. Get treatment by a physician. A broken arm has to be X-rayed to determine what treatment should be used. Most of the time it will need to be put in a cast, but sometimes the doctor will have to re-set the bone if it's not properly aligned. Sometimes this involves re-breaking the bone.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.