Page 115 - Participant Manual

Signs and Symptoms of Muscle, Bone and Joint Injuries

Muscle, bone and joint injuries can be extremely
painful. Sometimes the injury will be very obvious—
for example, you may see the ends of a broken bone
protruding through the skin, or the injured body part
might appear bent or crooked (deformed). If a joint
is dislocated, you may see an abnormal bump, ridge
or hollow formed by the displaced end of the bone.
Other times, signs and symptoms of injury may be
more subtle, such as swelling or bruising. Usually,
the person will try to avoid using the injured body
part because using it causes pain. In some cases,
the person may be unable to move the injured body
part. The person might also report feeling or hearing
“popping” or “snapping” at the time of the injury, or
“grating” when moving the injured part.

Sometimes when a person has a muscle, bone or joint injury, you will be able to tell right away that you need
to call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number. But not all muscle, bone or joint injuries result in obvious
injuries, and some are not serious enough to summon emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. In
general, call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number if:

■ A broken bone is protruding through the skin. ■ The injured area is cold and numb.

■ The injured body part is bent, crooked or looks ■ The injury involves the head, neck or spine.
deformed.
■ The person is having difficulty breathing.
■ There is moderate or severe swelling and
bruising. ■ The cause of the injury (for example, a fall from
a height or getting hit by a vehicle) makes you
■ The person heard or felt “popping” or “snapping” think that the injury may be severe, or that the
at the time of the injury. person may have multiple injuries.

■ The person hears or feels “grating” when he or ■ It is not possible to safely or comfortably
she moves the injured body part. move the person to a vehicle for transport to
a healthcare facility.
■ The person cannot move or use the injured body
part.

First Aid Care for Muscle, Bone and Joint Injuries
© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.

If you have called 9-1-1 or the designated
emergency number and are waiting for EMS
personnel to arrive, have the person rest without
moving or straightening the body part. If the person
can tolerate it, apply a cold pack wrapped in a thin,
dry towel to the area to reduce swelling and pain.

RICE

In some cases, it may only be necessary for the
person to see his or her healthcare provider to have
the injury evaluated. If calling EMS is unnecessary,
the mnemonic RICE can help you remember how to
care for a muscle, bone or joint injury:

Chapter 6 Traumatic Injuries | 106 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 6 Traumatic Injuries | 107 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual