How to Splint a Fracture of the Upper Arm

Video Transcript

"When dealing with a fractured humorous, please refer to your local protocols. Normally when you come upon a patient that has a fractured humorous they will already have their arm in their position of comfort. You usually find them holding their arm. You just want to make sure that there is no break in the skin, and that it is not a compound fracture, and that it is just a simple fracture. Your best option is using a rigid splint with a soft side. Rigid on one side soft on the other. And when you are splinting a humorous you want to be sure that you keep the patient in their position of comfort. You can use several different things to actually wrap around. In this case I am going to use triangular bandages. You want to make sure that the splint itself goes from the joint above the break to the joint below the break. This is always better with two people, but if you find yourself alone you are going to have to make due. When applying the triangular bandage you can do a simple overhand knot. I like to do it twice, because when you pull it stays in place. Then you can turn that into a square knot just making sure it is on the rigid side. Place the next one above the break, and make another square knot. The patient can be transported in this position, but often times it is easier if you actually make a sling and a slot for the patient. You can do that with some more triangular bandages. You are going to slip this underneath the patient's arm, and tie it in a position of comfort. You may need to pad this area. You will have a little bit of triangular bandage left over on the end near the elbow. You can simply just tie it up like this. Another way to ensure that the arm is going to stay in place is by applying the slot. All you need to do is wrap it around the patient, and if this does not hurt the patient you can actually cradle their hand with it. Make sure you tie the knot on the uninjured side. Okay, it is very important before and after you apply the splint that you check for a pulse, motor, and sensory. You can check a radial pulse. Can you feel me touching your fingers? And can you move your fingers please?"