How to Treat a Broken Collarbone

Broken bones are a common injury, and knowing how to react when it happens is a great asset. A broken bone occurs when too much pressure is put on the bone, and the pressure causes the bone to break, or fracture. The collarbone is a bone that goes between the shoulders, in the front of the body. Collarbone breaks are common in both children and athletes.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Stay calm. Focus on helping the person who is injured, or focus on not panicking if the victim is you. Panic only adds to the injured person's stress, so it is best to stay as relaxed as possible while making sure medical help is on the way to treat him. Also, try to keep the injured person calm. This is necessary so he doesn't move and further injure himself.

2. Contact a doctor or 911 for further instructions on how to treat the injury. A broken collarbone is a serious injury, and immediate medical assistance is needed.

3. Leave the person where she is unless she is in immediate danger in her current location. It is possible that a broken collarbone can be accompanied by an injured neck and spinal cord injury.

4. Talk to the person while waiting for the ambulance. Try to keep him conscious and aware until medical personnel are there to treat him.

5. See a physician. X-rays are necessary to diagnose a broken collarbone. If it is broken, a brace will have to be worn while the bone heals.

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