Splinting is used to immobilize injured extremities to reduce pain and prevent further damage. There are different types of splints that can be used depending on the injury. Guidelines for splinting include covering wounds, splinting above and below the injury, elevating the extremity, applying ice, and seeking medical help for certain symptoms. Slings are used to support injured arms, using triangular bandages or improvised materials. Specific splinting techniques are described for different body parts like the shoulder, humerus, elbow, wrist, pelvis, femur, knee, lower leg, ankle and foot.

1. Splinting Extremities

2. Splinting
• Reduces pain
• Prevents further damage to muscles,
nerves, and blood vessels
• Prevents closed fracture from
becoming open fracture
• Reduces bleeding and swelling

3. Types of Splints
• Rigid splint
• Self-splint (anatomic
splint)
• Soft splint

4. Splinting Guidelines (1 of 3)
• Cover open wounds with dry dressing before
applying splint.
• Splint only if it won’t cause further pain.
• Splint in position found.
• Warn victim of pain.
• Use splint that will extend beyond joints above
and below injury.
• Apply firmly, but do not affect circulation.

5. Splinting Guidelines (2 of 3)
• When possible, splint on both sides of injury.
• Elevate extremity after splinting.
• Apply ice pack.
• If possible spine injury, victim should not move.
• Stabilize spine with rolled blankets on each
side of neck and torso.

6. Splinting Guidelines (3 of 3)
• Seek medical care if:
• Extremity has no pulse
• Open fracture
• Dislocation
• Swollen, hot, tender, or painful joint
• Deformity, tenderness, swelling over bone
• Victim unable to walk
• Snap, crackle, pop was heard
• Uncertain whether bone was broken
• Lack of rapid improvement

7. Slings
• Open triangular bandage
= sling
• Folded triangular bandage
= cravat/swathe

8. Applying a Sling to Upper Arm,
Forearm, or Hand/Wrist (1 of 2)
• Hold victim’s arm away from
chest.
• Place triangular bandage
between forearm and chest with
point toward elbow.
• Stretch bandage beyond elbow.
• Pull upper end of bandage over
uninjured shoulder.
• Bring lower end of bandage over
forearm.

9. Applying a Sling to Upper Arm,
Forearm, or Hand/Wrist (2 of 2)
• Bring end of bandage around
neck to uninjured side.
• Tie other end at hollow above
clavicle on uninjured side.
• Place swathe around upper arm
and body.
• Place padding underneath both
knots.
• Adjust sling to support hand and
wrist.

10. Applying a Sling to
Clavicle/Shoulder (1 of 2)
• Hold victim’s arm away
from chest.
• Place triangular bandage
between forearm and
chest with point toward
elbow.
• Stretch bandage beyond
elbow.
• Pull upper end over
uninjured shoulder.

11. Applying a Sling to
Clavicle/Shoulder (2 of 2)
• Bring lower end of
bandage over forearm.
• Tuck under armpit on
uninjured side.
• Bring lower end around
back.
• Tie to upper end.
• Place swathe around
chest and forearm.

12. Improvised Slings
• Place hand inside buttoned
jacket.
• Use belt, necktie, or other
item looped around neck and
injured arm.
• Pin sleeve of shirt or jacket to
clothing.
• Turn up lower edge of shirt or
jacket over uninjured arm.
• Pin to upper part of shirt or
jacket.

13. Shoulder Splinting (1 of 2)
• Support injured arm away
from chest.
• Place open triangular
bandage between forearm
and chest.
• Stretch point beyond elbow.
• Pull upper end over
shoulder on uninjured side.

14. Shoulder Splinting (2 of 2)
• Bring lower end
over forearm, under
armpit on injured
side, around back.
• Tie upper and
lower ends.
• Check pulse and
nail color.

15. Humerus Splinting
• Place injured arm
across chest.
• If available, tie rigid
splint to outside of
arm.
• Place arm in sling.
• Secure arm to chest
with swathe.

16. Elbow Splinting
• Splint in position
found.
• If straight, tie rigid
splint onto arm with
cravat bandages.
• Place arm in sling.

17. Forearm Splinting
• Use one rigid splint from
palm past elbow.
• Use second rigid splint on
opposite side of arm.
• Secure splint with roller
bandage or cravats.
• Put arm in sling.
• Keep thumb upright.
• Secure with swathe around
body.

18. Wrist, Hand, and Finger
Splinting
• Three methods:
• Place injured hand in position
of function.
• Attach rigid splint
extending past fingertips.
• Place hand in position of
function.
• Place arm in sling and swathe
with thumb upright.
• Tape fingers together with
gauze separating fingers.

19. Pelvis and Hip Splinting
• Stabilize victim in position
found.
• Treat for shock.
• Do not lift legs.
• Wait for EMS.

20. Femur Splinting
• Traction splint required.
• Available only on
ambulances.
• Two first aid methods:
• Place folded blanket
between victim’s
legs.
• Place board
between legs from
groin to foot.

21. Knee Splinting (1 of 2)
• Stabilize in position found.
• To splint straight knee:
• Lift injured leg.
• Place rigid splint under leg,
from buttocks to beyond
foot.
• Place cravats under splint.
• Place padding under knee
and ankle.
• Tie cravats. Do not tie over
injured area.

22. Knee Splinting (2 of 2)
• To splint bent knee:
• Place rigid splint against
injured leg.
• Do not place against knee.
• Tie cravat around splint
and lower leg.
• Tie cravat around splint
and thigh.
• Tie knots over splint, not
over leg.

23. Lower Leg Splinting (1 of 2)
• Self-splint method:
• Pad between
legs.
• Push cravats
under leg with
thin board.
• Tie legs together.
• Tie knots
between legs,
over padding.

24. Lower Leg Splinting (2 of 2)
• Using rigid splints:
• Place rigid splint on
outside and inside.
• Push cravats under leg
and splints with thin board.
• Tie splints and leg together
with cravats.
• Tie knots on top of splint.

25. Ankle and Foot Splinting
• Use RICE.
• Wrap pillow or folded
blanket around ankle
and foot.
• Tie with cravats.