How to Determine if Something is Broken

If you suspect that someone has broken something, whether it’s an arm, a leg or even a hip, it’s imperative that they get medical intervention as soon as possible. Without it, a person risks permanent damage to the affected area, as the bones will heal improperly. There are even occasions where a fracture could be life threatening. That’s why it’s important you pay attention to the following tips, which will explain explicitly how you can determine if something is broken.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone
• Splint
• Medical care
• X-Ray

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Instructions

How to Determine if Something is Broken

• 1

  Talk to the injured person. Ask them about the nature of their accident, so you can see if there's a cause for a broken bone. Ask them what type of pain they are suffering. Fractured bones are usually very painful, though minor ones, (such as hairline fractures), may not cause any pain. However, this doesn't mean that they don't warrant prompt medical treatment, as they are still very serious injuries.

• 2

  Gently touch the area in question, if it's a arm or a leg. Take note if you feel anything unusual, such as swelling or even the broken bone itself. If the affected area is in a more serious location, (such as the hips, the skull or the spine), do not touch it, as it could make matters worse. Besides, in these situations it becomes more obvious that something is wrong, since the person may not even be conscious.

• 3

  Check to see how the body is responding to the affected area. The best way to do this is by feeling for a pulse. If there isn't a pulse, the victim may have a broken bone that requires surgical intervention.

• 4

  If you suspect an arm or a leg is broken or if you are unsure, put a splint around it to keep it in place. The easiest splint for the arm can be created with medical tape and rolled-up newspaper. Wrap the newspaper around the arm and hold it in place with the tape. For the leg, attach it to something larger, such as a piece of cardboard. Keep in mind that if you don't have these materials on hand, you will have to use whatever is available to create your splint. This shouldn't be too difficult, if you remember the main components of a splint: 1) a firm surface and 2) something to help hold the splint in place.

• 5

  Call 911. Some fractures may not require an ambulance, but call 911 anyway, because sometimes a fracture may cause internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening. You may not be able to tell this on your own, so let the paramedics handle things. Once the person arrives at the hospital, the physician will evaluate him to see if he is officially suffering from a broken bone. Usually, they will know for sure once they get an X-ray.