Broken bones: first aid

In short: A broken bone requires calm, careful first aid to prevent further damage and ease pain until professional medical help arrives. The most important rule is to move the injured body part as little as possible.

In more detail: Open and closed fractures differ significantly in their first aid, with open fractures carrying additional infection risks.

Note: Not a substitute for medical advice or professional first aid training.

In detail

• Immobilisation: The affected body part should be moved as little as possible and, if possible, stabilised with padding or improvised splints.
• No attempts at repositioning: Dislocated or displaced bones should never be reset by yourself, as this can cause additional damage.
• Open fractures: With visible bone parts or open wounds, the wound is covered with a sterile bandage without applying pressure to the protruding bone.
• Cooling: Cooling the affected area, though not directly on the skin, can ease swelling and pain in the first hours.
• Circulation check: Circulation below the injury should be checked regularly, since severe swelling can compress blood vessels.
• Shock prevention: With severe pain or blood loss, the person should be laid flat and kept warm to prevent shock.
• Emergency call: If a spinal or pelvic fracture is suspected, or with heavy bleeding or visible bone protrusions, call emergency services (112) immediately (erste-hilfe-grundlagen, knochen-muskeln-und-gelenke).