How to Handle a Broken Bone

Some things are a staple of childhood: The first time you hit a home run in your little league game, the smell of a new book when you flip through the pages, the laughter of friends at a sleepover; unfortunately, it seems that broken bones are also something that many children run across in their lives.

So, if your child has broken their bone, what is the next step? Sure, you should bring them into your local AFC for treatment, but what steps can you take at home to aid them in the meantime ?

Here are three things to do if your child breaks a bone:

1) Stop the Bleeding
If the wound is bleeding, make sure to apply pressure to the wound, and tie it tightly with a cloth, shirt, or other piece of clean fabric.

2) Ice Packs
If you want to avoid swelling and help to reduce the pain involved, take a pack of ice and wrap it up in some sort of fabric, and apply it to the wound. Make sure not to apply the ice directly to the skin, and always clean the wound first before applying anything to it.

3) Elevate the Legs
In order to treat shock, lay the person down with their head slightly less elevated than their body, with the legs elevated even more than the body if possible. This will help feelings of faintness and assist those who are breathing in short, rapid breaths.