How to Sew Your Own Arm Sling

A knowledge of basic first aid is extremely important for outdoor men and women of all skill levels. It's equally important to have the proper tools and instruments on hand if a medical emergency should arise in the field. A home-sewn arm sling is an inexpensive and vital addition to any first-aid kit.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Two 15-by-25-inch squares of sturdy fabric
• 30 inches of Velcro strips 2 to 3 inches wide

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Instructions

Sewing the Sling

• 1

  Lay one 15-by-25-inch fabric panel on a table and lay the other on top of it, right sides together, wrong sides out. Use pins to fasten the edges together all the way around.

• 2

  Sew a 1/4-inch seam around the edge, leaving a 3-inch opening to allow for turning the fabric right side out. Remove the pins.

• 3

  Turn the fabric right side out and sew the gap closed.

• 4

  Cut the Velcro into one 10-inch strip and one 20-inch strip.

• 5

  Pull apart the two sides of the 10-inch strip of Velcro. You will now have two strips, one that is a 10 inch non-Velcro side and a 10-inch Velcro side.

• 6

  Align the non-Velcro side of the 10-inch strip with the 15-inch seam of one side of the fabric and sew on the 10-inch strip with the non-Velcro side facing out. This will now be the "front" of your sling, where the wrist and hand will stick out.

  Where the non-Velcro side of the 10-inch strip is sewn will now be the "underside" of your sling.

• 7

  Fold the fabric in half, being sure to line up edges. This will create the "hammock" in which to place the injured person's arm -- one panel in front of the arm, one panel behind.

• 8

  Pull apart the two sides of the 20-inch strip of Velcro. You will now have two strips, one that is a 20-inch non-Velcro side and a 20-inch Velcro side.

• 9

  Sew 1 inch of the Velcro side of the 20-inch strip to the inside of the front panel 2 inches from the "rear" of the panel.

• 10

  Sew 1 inch of the non-Velcro side of the 20-inch strip to the inside of the rear panel 2 inches from the "rear" of the panel.

  Be sure to sew the strips facing each other so that you may attach them together using the Velcro. You will now be able to put a patient's arm into the "hammock" portion of the sling and then secure the rear of the forearm by closing the Velcro strips together.

• 11

  Cut 3 to 4 inches off of the end of the non-Velcro side of the 20-inch strip. The Velcro side of the 20-inch strip will now be 3 to 4 inches longer than the non-Velcro side, and this will allow for it to be attached to the non-Velcro side of the 10-inch strip sewn on the underside of the front of the sling.

  Fasten the two sides of the 20-inch Velcro strip together. This will act as the portion of the sling that will be looped around the back of neck to support the injured arm.

Using the Sling

• 12

  Contact emergency services. Ask the injured individual to sit upright, if possible, and hold the injured arm to his or her chest.

• 13

  Wrap the long strip of Velcro around the back of the neck, then cross it over the front of the shoulder of the uninjured arm and then in front of the wrist of the injured arm. From there it should be attached, from front to back, to the 10-inch Velcro strip sewn on the underside of the sling.

  This will act as a support to the wrist and will help brace the injured arm against the body for support.

• 14

  Place gauze or a towel at the nape of the injured person's neck to avoid chafing.