332 FIRST HELP IN ACCIDENTS 



limb; inability to move it ; great pain in and about the joint 

 upon the slightest attempt at motion. 



Much can be done for the comfort of a patient, pending the 

 arrival of surgical aid. First of all, remember that a person 

 with a broken bone may, without suffering harm, wait several 

 hours and even a day for the so-called " setting " of the bone. 

 Rest and support of the injured member are the two things to 

 be accomplished. First remove all clothing from the arm or 

 leg, best by slitting the garments open, and not by pulling 

 them off ; then firmly tie a strip of wood on either side of the 

 limb, protecting the skin by padding the wood well with any- 

 thing soft, cotton, pieces of clothing, etc. A good support is 

 given by tying a pillow firmly around the arm or leg. In 



FIG. 81 



moving a person suffering from a fractured leg or arm, some 

 one should carry the broken limb carefully and evenly, so as 

 to avoid all jarring and all motion at the seat of the fracture, 

 which would be extremely painful. Should some hours have 

 to elapse before the surgeon arrives, the limb should be in- 

 spected from time to time to see that the cords are not tied too 

 tightly, for considerable swelling follows each fracture. 



The help in dislocations lies chiefly in the proper support of 

 the limb in the position in which it is found. In moving 

 a person suffering from a dislocation, let one person support 

 the limb, and after the patient is at rest, place it in the posi- 

 tion which proves the most comfortable for the sufferer, sup- 

 porting it on either side with pillows, stones, or pieces of wood. 

 Cold water compresses to the joint, if there is much pain, will 

 feel most grateful. 



