How to Splint a Fractured Rib in the Wilderness
Splinting a fractured rib not only reduces pain, but also helps minimize the risk of puncturing a lung.
Instructions
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Assess for fracture (see "How to Assess for Fracture").
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Immobilize the injury: Any movement is not only very painful but can worsen the injury.
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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.
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Run four more strips of tape parallel and adjacent to the first one: two on each side of the first strip.
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Put the arm on the side of the fracture into a sling and swathe (see "How to Make a Sling for an Injured Arm").
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Continue with further treatment for the fracture (see related eHows on treating fractures).
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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.