First Aid for a Broken Bone in the Hand or Wrist



First aid for a broken bone in the hand or wrist
Your employee who falls from a ladder, scaffold or other high place will probably put out a hand to break the fall. As the person crashes to the surface below, the extended hand may bear all the weight so that bones crack, splinter, or break. When you reach your injured employee, you may see bone or pieces of bony material protruding through the skin. Or the hand or fingers may be bent in an unnatural position. Immediate first aid 1. Immobilize. Prevent movement of the affected hand and wrist. If possible, use a splint, even a hand-made one if your first-aid kit is not available. Immobilize or splint the hand, if possible. 2. Cover. If the bone is exposed or there is a lot of bleeding, cover the entire hand with a clean towel, cloth, or gauze. 3. Apply ice. Hand injuries are painful. Apply ice to help decrease the pain, but be sure to wrap ice in a clean towel so that it doesn’t touch the skin directly. Even with protection, don’t apply ice for longer than twenty minutes. 4. Get medical help. Your employee needs medical attention. Transport him or her to the nearest emergency department or walk-in care center. If other problems besides a bone fracture are involved, call 911 or take the employee directly to the nearest hospital emergency department. Copyright © 2008 by Griffith Publishing 800 359-9503 Watch these pages grow!			More about... Reliable resources for work-related health information Blogs for a safe and healthy workplace Free tools for your health and safety programs Directory of health and safety info on the Web from JG and HealthWorks How we can help and who we are THINKING POINTS "Fifty years ago phalangeal fractures were treated according to 'hearsay' or what recommendations were available in text books." Wiki Books "Fractures and soft tissue injuries of the immature hand are common, comprising 1.7% of all pediatric emergency room visits." Treating children's hand injuries. POSNA.