How to Strap a Dislocated Shoulder
A dislocated shoulder is obvious. The injured person cannot lift her arm, a large bump may appear in front of the shoulder, the shoulder appears deformed, and it hurts enormously. The American Medical Association advises seeking medical attention if it is available within three hours. Meanwhile, immobilize the joint with straps or slings.
Things You'll Need
- Sling (or makeshift sling, like a shirt or long towel)
- Padding (or makeshift padding, like a rolled-up shirt)
- Strap (can be a long belt, bungee cord, a second sling)
- Cold compress
Instructions
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Ask the injured person to sit upright. Before you seek medical attention, you will want the arm to hang close to the body to minimize discomfort and further injury.
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Sling the arm with a white sling from a first-aid kit or, in a pinch, with a shirt or some other piece of cloth. Sling it tightly enough around the back of the neck to reduce some of the downward pressure; the nerves in the shoulder joint are stretched, and this will reduce the pain, somewhat.
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Position some padding underneath the arm, and against the chest. A rolled-up shirt or jacket is sufficient in an emergency; later, the hospital will likely provide a foam block.
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Strap the sling or the arm to the chest to prevent swinging. A large belt around the chest and over the dislocated arm is sufficient; or a second sling, bungee cord and so on. Do not tie or strap tightly, or you will cut off circulation; the strap needs only to prevent swinging.
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Apply a cold compress, if available, to the front of the shoulder to reduce swelling and numb the injury.
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Transport the injured person to a hospital immediately. He will be in enormous pain and need relief. Also, the injury can worsen over time; any tears in the ligaments or bursars can worsen while the bone is dislocated.
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Tips & Warnings
Before medical care was readily available, the remedy was to have the injured person lie down and yank strongly upward on the dislocated arm. This usually reduced the dislocation, but is fairly violent, and can cause further injury.
Other methods include having the person lie on a table, face down, with weights pulling down the arm; having her sit down, bend forward, placing her hand behind her head and having her sit up; and so on. Use these less violent methods only if medical attention is not readily available.
