First Aid Splinting: How to Stabilize Injuries

Table Of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. What Is Splinting In First Aid
3. Types Of First Aid Splints
4. Why Splinting Is Important In First Aid
5. The Difference Between Splinting And Casting
6. When To Use A Splint
7. Contraindications Of Splinting
8. Tips For Effective Splinting
9. Wrapping Up

Introduction

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 14% of emergency room visits are due to musculoskeletal injury. When someone suffers from such an injury, placing a splint is the best initial first aid before reaching the emergency room.  By providing essential support, splinting ensures the injured area is stable during transport or while waiting for professional help. In this blog, we will understand the various types of splints like rigid, soft, and anatomic splints, and how to use them.

What is Splinting in First Aid

Splinting is a crucial first-aid technique for stabilizing and protecting injured bones or joints. By immobilizing the injured area with materials like rigid boards or soft towels, splinting helps prevent further damage, reduce pain, and control swelling. It’s commonly used for fractures, sprains, strains, and dislocations. 

Here’s why splinting is essential:

• Prevents Further Damage: Keeps the injured area stable.
• Reduces Pain: Immobilization helps alleviate discomfort.
• Controls Swelling: Provides support and limits movement.
• Ensures Safe Transport: Keeps the injury from worsening on the way to a medical facility.

Splinting offers immediate support and prepares the injury for professional medical treatment, making it a vital step in first aid care.

Types of First Aid Splints

Imagine you go to the doctor with a toe injury, and the doctor tells you that he will put on an anatomic splint. A question that arises in your mind is, “What is an anatomical splint?”. When a body part is used as a support for an injured one, such a splint is called anatomic splint. Understanding the types and applications of splints ensures that you can provide effective care in emergencies. Whether using materials at hand or specialized equipment, proper splinting can greatly improve outcomes and comfort for the injured person.

Rigid Splint

Rigid splints are made from hard materials such as wood, plastic, or metal. Rigid splints are firm and do not bend, providing strong support to the injury. They are ideal for stabilizing fractures and severe sprains, especially in the arms and legs. Because they prevent movement completely, they are effective in keeping the bones aligned. Rigid splints offer strong support and reduce pain by preventing movement. However, they can be heavy or uncomfortable if not padded well, and they may not fit well on irregularly shaped body parts.

Now that we know what a rigid splint is, let’s see how to apply it in an emergency.

1. Find a sturdy material like a board or metal strip.
2. Place the splint alongside the injured limb.
3. To avoid direct contact with the skin, pad the splint with a soft material.
4. Secure it with bandages or cloth strips without cutting off circulation.

Soft Splint

Soft splints are made of flexible materials like towels, blankets, or foam, which conform to the body’s shape and offer gentle support. They are ideal for minor injuries, such as mild sprains or strains. Soft splints are comfortable and lightweight. They are also easily adjustable and can be improvised from available materials. However, they provide less support than rigid splints and, hence, aren’t suitable for serious fractures.

To use a soft splint, do the following:

1. Roll or fold a towel or blanket to the desired thickness.
2. Wrap the soft material around the injured area. A soft material should be used to wrap the injured area.
3. Secure it gently using a bandage or tape.

Anatomical Splint

An anatomical splint uses another body part to stabilize the injury. It is most often used for finger or toe injuries when no additional materials are available. They are quick and easy to apply and offer less support than other splints. Taping a broken finger to an adjacent healthy finger is an example of an anatomical splint.

Now that we know the anatomic splint definition let us learn how to use one:

1. Position the injured part next to the stable body part.
2. Use medical tape or a soft cloth to tie them together, making sure the binding is not too tight.

Vacuum Splint

Splints filled with tiny beads and using air to provide support are called vacuum splints. When air is removed, the splint hardens and molds to the shape of the injury. Emergency responders mostly use them for various injuries, such as soft tissue injuries and dislocations. These splints are useful when the shape of the injury is unusual or complex. Vacuum splints require a pump to deflate them, making them more expensive than others.

To apply a vacuum splint, do the following:

1. Place the splint around the injured area.
2. Use a pump to remove air from the splint, causing it to conform to the body.
3. Secure any straps or fasteners to maintain the shape.

Traction Splint

Traction splints apply a gentle pulling force to align bones. They are typically used for femur (thigh bone) fractures and are commonly used by medical professionals in cases of severe leg injuries. Traction splints help realign the bone and reduce muscle spasms. However, traction splints are not suitable for all fractures and require training to apply correctly.

To apply a traction splint:

1. Position the splint under the leg.
2. Attach straps above and below the fracture.
3. Adjust the splint to apply traction, aligning the bone.

Finger Splint

Finger splints are designed specifically for finger injuries, keeping the finger straight and immobile. They are used for fractures, dislocations, or tendon injuries in fingers. They help maintain proper alignment and prevent further damage. Finger splints are easy to apply and adjust and are available in various shapes and sizes to fit any finger. However, they can only be used for fingers and may require frequent adjustments for comfort.

To apply a finger splint, follow these steps:

1. Choose a splint that fits the finger size.
2. Align the splint with the finger.
3. Secure it with medical tape or straps, ensuring the finger is straight.

Why Splinting is Important in First Aid

Splinting is a part of first aid that serves multiple functions, like reducing pain and promoting healing.

• Stabilization: Splinting stabilizes the injured area, which helps reduce movement. This leads to less pain because the injured parts are kept in place.
• Comfort: By immobilizing the injury, splints prevent jarring movements that could cause sharp pain. This makes the injured person more comfortable until further help arrives.
• Protection: Splints protect injuries like broken bones or sprains from additional damage by keeping them stable.
• Minimizes Complications: Preventing movement helps avoid complications like muscle spasms or damage to surrounding tissues and nerves.
• Proper Alignment: Splints help keep bones and joints in the correct position, which is essential for proper healing. Misaligned bones can lead to poor healing and long-term issues.
• Support: By providing support, splints enable the body to start the healing process efficiently. This is especially important during the critical first few hours after an injury.
• Emergency Aid: Quick splinting can be lifesaving in emergencies. It provides immediate care and reduces the risk of shock from pain or blood loss.
• Facilitates Transport: By stabilizing injuries, splints make it safer to move injured people. This is essential when transferring them to a hospital or waiting for professional help.

Read More: Main Objectives and Goals of First Aid Training

The Difference Between Splinting and Casting

Splinting and casting are both useful in immobilizing injured body parts, but there are many key differences between them. These include their application methods, materials used, and the level of support they provide. These differences between the two are:

When to Use a Splint

Splinting is a vital first-aid technique used for a variety of injuries, providing crucial support and protection. Here are the primary indications:

• Visible Deformities or Fractures: When a bone looks out of place or is broken, splinting helps stabilize the area and prevent further injury.
• Severe Pain: If moving the injured part increases discomfort, splinting can help reduce pain by immobilizing the area.
• Joint Injuries: Sprains, particularly in ankles or wrists, benefit from splinting to prevent additional damage to ligaments.
• Swelling and Bleeding are indicators of soft tissue damage, where splinting can help by reducing movement and providing support.
• Joint Misalignment: When a joint is visibly out of place, splinting can help keep it stable until medical professionals can reposition it.
• Open Wounds with Bone Exposure: Splinting shields the injured area from further harm and reduces the risk of contamination by keeping it covered and stable.
• Stabilization is essential for safely moving someone with a suspected fracture or severe sprain to a medical facility, minimizing the risk of further injury.
• Temporary Immobilization: Splinting is an immediate response before professional medical treatment can be obtained, ensuring the injury doesn’t worsen.

In summary, splinting is a critical first-aid measure for managing fractures, sprains, strains, and dislocations. It reduces pain, prevents complications, and ensures safe transport to medical facilities.

Contraindications of Splinting

While splinting is generally helpful, it should be avoided if it causes discomfort to the patient. It should not be used if it risks further injury or if there are open wounds that need immediate medical attention. The situations where we should avoid splinting are:

• Open Fractures: Immediate medical attention is needed when a bone pierces through the skin. Focus on controlling bleeding and covering the wound rather than splinting it.
• Compartment Syndrome: In cases of compartment syndrome, increased pressure in a muscle compartment can restrict blood flow. Splinting may exacerbate the condition.
• Unstable Fractures or Joint Dislocations: If a fracture or dislocation is too unstable for splinting, more advanced methods like casting or surgery may be required.
• Allergy or Intolerance: Some people may be allergic to materials used in splints, such as latex. In these cases, alternative immobilization methods should be used.

Splinting is generally a safe and effective first aid technique, but it’s important to recognize when it might not be appropriate and seek professional medical assistance.

Tips for Effective Splinting

By learning to splint effectively, you can make sure that the splint is applied correctly and it also helps in preventing further injury. Tips to apply a splint effectively are:

• Use Appropriate Materials: Choose the right type of splint based on the injury.
• Check Circulation: Always check for proper circulation before and after applying the splint.
• Provide Padding: Use padding to protect the skin and make the splint more comfortable.
• Secure Properly: Ensure the splint is snug but not too tight to avoid cutting off circulation.
• Seek Medical Help: Always seek professional medical assistance after applying a splint.

Wrapping Up

Splinting is a vital part of first aid that offers immediate stabilization and protection to injured areas. While generally safe, it’s important to recognize situations where splinting may not be appropriate. 

By learning how to splint, you can provide essential support until medical help arrives. You can enroll in our first aid course to become familiar with how to use anatomic splints and act appropriately in emergencies. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a parent, or just someone who wants to be prepared, understanding splinting techniques is an invaluable addition to your first aid knowledge.