How To Splint A Broken Arm With Cardboard

Cardboard splints work very well for splinting broken arms in the field.

Assess the broken arm by feeling the area of the broken bone. Deformity, crepitus (a grinding feeling under the skin), or discoloration may be present in the area of the fracture. In most cases, the victim will just feel pain and tenderness near the injury.

Assess the victim’s circulation, sensation, and motion in the hand.

Ask the victim to identify which finger is being touched. Ask the victim to move fingers. Feel the victim’s fingers to see if they are as warm as the hand on the unbroken arm.

Wrap the splint snugly around the broken arm. The splint should support the broken arm on all sides and immobilize the arm above and below the broken bone. In this example, the broken arm is immobilized from the elbow to the wrist.