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How to Splint a Fractured Rib in the Wilderness

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By eHow Contributing Writer
(5 Ratings)

Splinting a fractured rib not only reduces pain, but also helps minimize the risk of puncturing a lung.

From Quick Guide: Wilderness Skills
Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Assess for fracture (see "How to Assess for Fracture").

  2. Step 2

    Immobilize the injury: Any movement is not only very painful but can worsen the injury.

  3. Step 3

    Tape the broken rib: Run a strip of athletic tape along the rib from the midline of the chest to just past the spine in back.

  4. Step 4

    Run four more strips of tape parallel and adjacent to the first one: two on each side of the first strip.

  5. Step 5

    Put the arm on the side of the fracture into a sling and swathe (see "How to Make a Sling for an Injured Arm").

  6. Step 6

    Continue with further treatment for the fracture (see related eHows on treating fractures).

Tips & Warnings
  • Contact the Wilderness Medicine Institute or the National Outdoor Leadership School for information on wilderness medicine courses and books.
  • Take extra care to immobilize a person with a fractured rib, since the rib can puncture a lung.
  • To make sure the lungs stay clear, encourage the injured person to take deep breaths, even if it hurts.
  • Monitor closely for difficulty of breathing: labored breathing may indicate a punctured lung or other internal injury.
  • This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
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