1. Skill Unit: Wilderness First Aid

2. Skills 12/17: Breaks & Sprains II: Legs

3. Learning Intention: To practise how to recognise and treat a broken or sprained leg or ankle

4. Success Criteria: By the end of this session everyone should be able to: State two priorities when treating a break or sprain; Use a splint or improvised dressing to treat a break or sprain to a leg or ankle

5. Activities: 1.Presentation/Discussion (10) 2.Demonstration (5) 3.Practical (20) 4.Review Success Criteria (5)

6. Tayside Mountain Rescue says...  The most common type of injuries (resulting in a call-out) are lower leg fractures caused by a simple slip

7. Possible Symptoms Pain Swelling Bruising Difficulty moving the injured limb Deformation of the injured limb (dislocations & some breaks)

8. Treatment R- Rest the injured limb I- Apply ice (cold compress or ice-pack) C- Compress the injury E- Elevate the injured limb

9. But what if… The casualty needs to be moved? The casualty cannot walk?

10. Complications Limb deformation may cause loss of circulation: check for numbness or blueness in toes. If more than an hour from medical attention, consider straightening limb by pulling firmly downwards, then setting with a splint (contact your supervisor first!)

11. Video Clip: NOLS Leg Splints (5.17)

12. Questions?

13. Practical: Group A: 1 Casualty 3 Observers Group B: First Aiders Checklist for Observers: Did they ASSESS the situation? Did they approach the casualty safely? Conscious Casualty: Did they ask relevant questions? Unconscious Casualty: Did they check BREATHING/CIRCULATION Did they COMMUNICATE appropriately? Did they TAKE appropriate ACTION e.g. treat the casualty effectively (RICE!)

14. Next Session: Skill 13: Burns & Scalds