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A guide to Splinting
A splint is a medical device that is used to prevent an injured part of the body from making movements, which is essential in keeping it away from further damages. Splinting is important when you have a severe sprain or strain in one of your legs or hands and is useful in stabilizing broken bones before the victim reaches the hospital for more advanced and specialized treatment. The good thing about splinting is that you can easily create a splint from things around you.
To splint an injury, you will require several items. First, you need a rigid substance that will be useful in stabilizing the part with the fracture. Some of the things you can use include a heavy stick, a rolled-up towel, a newspaper that has been rolled up, or a plank or board. If the substance you are using has sharp edges, ensure that you wrap it using a cloth for proper padding. The padding is important because it reduces the pressure that the material exacts on the injury. The other item required is a strip to fasten the splint in place. Some of the valuable items you can use at home include strips of cloth, shoelaces, ropes, and belts. Medical tapes are the best if you have them in your home. However, you should avoid using commercial tape such as duct tape against the skin.
To apply a splint, you should follow the instructions below. The first thing you should do should be to attend to the bleeding. One of the most effective ways to stop the bleeding is exacting pressure on the injury. After the bleeding has stopped, it is time to apply the padding, which can be a piece of cloth, or bandage. When applying it, you should ensure that you do not move the injured part. This includes trying to realign the part back into the right shape because this may lead to more damage. After adding the padding, it is time to place your splint. The homemade splint should be applied in a good position that it rests well on the joint just above the injury and the one below it. For example, if you are splinting the forearm, your material should go past both the elbow and the wrist. You should avoid tying over the injured part. When tying, ensure that it is tight, but not so tight to cut the circulation of blood.
After putting the splint in place, watch out for any signs of shock or reduced circulation of the blood. Reduced blood circulation is noted by the extremities appearing swollen, pale, and tinged with blue color. After noticing such signs, you should loosen the ties a bit to allow the blood to flow well. You can also check the circulation by feeling the pulse. Ensure it remains the same before and after you tie. Loosening should also be done if the tie is causing pain to the injured person. If loosening does not help, you should remove the splint and seek for medical help. You can call an ambulance or take the person to the nearest t health facility.
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