How to Treat Broken Parts of Your Body While Camping

Camping out has always been a great way to get closer to nature and enjoy the great outdoors, but without the aid of nearby medical services you'll have to know how to take care of yourself when accidents occur. Breaking a bone is a definite possibility when out camping or hiking, especially when traversing rocky terrain or climbing. Should you have the unfortunate occurrence of breaking a bone, you'll need to know how to stabilize and treat it so you can get yourself out of the wilderness and seek proper medical attention.

Things You'll Need

• Splinting material
• Cordage material
• Water

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Instructions

• 1

  Stop any bleeding if present. If the break is severe and a bone is protruding, you'll need to push it back into position. This will cause a great deal of pain but is essential to stop the bleeding and prevent infection. You'll need to do this by yourself, but If you have a buddy with you, have him push the bone back into place, then clean any dirt away with water. Apply pressure to the wound and bandage the area securely. If you don't have a first-aid kit, rip a T-shirt into bandage like strips.

• 2

  Gather materials to make a splint to stabilize the broken bone. An arm, lower leg or ankle break, which are the most common of broken bones while hiking or backpacking, should be stabilized with available materials. You'll need cordage, rope, a bandanna or clothing to wrap the splint onto the broken limb. You can use a sleeping pad, two strong sticks, two boards, tent poles or anything that has enough rigidity to support your limb and keep it stabilized for splinting material.

• 3

  Place two pieces of splinting material on both sides of the broken bone, then tie the splints onto the limb securely. For a leg, the splints should be placed on the outer and inner leg and tied snug in place without restricting circulation. An arm should be splinted in the same manner and then can be slung using a rope, bandanna or scarf. A sleeping pad can be wrapped snug around the leg or arm and tied in place as well.

• 4

  Find a crutch. A long supportive stick, hiking staff or poles can be used to take the weight off of your broken leg. Walk slowly and use the stick in place of your broken leg for stepping. Avoid dragging your leg. Instead, try to gently swing the leg forward in a walking motion, then place the crutch down for support without placing your foot on the ground, causing pressure.

• 5

  Check your bandages, sling and splint as you walk to make sure that no excessive bleeding is present and the splint is staying tight and secure. If you feel the splint become loose, stop and re-tighten your cordage.