Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Individuals with fractures of the upper extremity, collarbone, or ribs and some persons
with head injuries are able to walk. Such individuals must be closely attended because
weakness and instability can result from the injury or from drugs given for pain. Persons
with fractures of the lower extremities, pelvis, or vertebral column and individuals with
severe head injuries usually must be carried. Considerable resourcefulness and sheer de-
termination are required to successfully evacuate individuals with these injuries, particu-
larly in bad weather. Carrying a person a significant distance often requires twelve to fif-
teen people.
SPECIFIC FRACTURES OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY
Hand and Finger
Fractures of a finger are usually obvious; fractures of a hand may be difficult to dia-
gnose.Ifpainpersists forseveral days,afracture isprobablypresent. Thehandandfingers
should be immobilized by bandaging the hand in the position of function with a wad of
material in the palm. An elastic bandage or rolled up pair of socks serves nicely for this
purpose. If the fracture is adjacent to the wrist, a splint should be applied to the palm and
the underside of the forearm. A forearm sling should be used to keep the hand elevated,
Forearm, Elbow, Upper Arm, and Shoulder
Forearmandwristfracturesareusuallyobvious.Tostabilizeforearmfractures,thehand
andelbowmustbeincludedinthesplint.Awristfracturemaybeimmobilizedinaforearm
splint. After splinting, the injured arm should be supported in a sling. An improvised sling
can be made from the injured person'sshirt. The injured arm should be held over the abdo-
men with the hand higher than the elbow.The bottom ofthe shirt is rolled over the forearm
and the upper arm and pulled up as high as possible, preferably to the shoulder. The shirt
tail can be secured with safety pins or a small stone or similar object placed inside the shirt
and held by a shoelace or cord tied around it and looped around the person's neck.
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