Assessing a situation that requires first aid can be difficult, especially when you're looking for injuries below the skin. Knowing the signs of a fracture can help you stabilize the area and prepare the victim for proper medical attention.


Steps

1. Check for obvious life-threatening injuries , such as heavy bleeding, stopped breathing, signs of internal injury to major organs, or a serious head wound. These should be treated first.
2. Assess the likelihood of a fracture . Falls, traffic accidents, or serious fights, for example, are more likely to produce fractures. If in doubt about the cause of the injuries, check for fractures.
3. Calm the victim , if they are conscious. It's more difficult to assess someone who is frightened.
4. Get the victim to lie still if he or she is moving around. If the victim is unconscious, make sure their spine is aligned and they are breathing comfortably. If they are conscious, ask to make sure they are in a comfortable position.
5. Check for external signs of a fracture , starting with the head and systematically moving down. Signs to look for are:
   • Extreme swelling
   • An unnatural angle in the bone or joint
   • Blood pooling under the skin/rapid bruising
   • Numbness/tingling in the area
   • Victim reports hearing a snap/crunch/pop during the incident
6. Double check commonly fractured areas:
   • Lower leg
   • Forearm
   • Collarbone
   • Hand
   • Foot
   • Lower ribs
7. Stabilize the area and get professional assistance as soon as possible.

Tips

• If you're unsure if an area is fractured, stabilize the area anyway.
  • Better safe than sorry-- untreated fractures can cause serious problems.
  • It may be a severe sprain, a dislocation, or a ligament tear, which also needs stabilization.

Warnings

• This assessment may miss some fractures, and some serious internal organ and soft tissue injuries. Make sure the victim gets to a hospital for x-rays and examination as soon as possible.
• Do not attempt these steps without proper first aid training.
• Do not attempt to apply a bandage or splint without proper training. An improper bandage can damage the area permanently.