1. Injuries to Muscles, Bones, and Joints Health 10 September 16, 2008

2. Muscles, Bones, Tendons, and Ligaments ► The body’s skeleton is made up of bones and muscles and the tendons and ligaments that connect them.

3. Musculoskeletal Injuries 1. Fractures ► A complete break, a chip, or a crack in a bone. ► Fractures are open or closed ► Fractures are life threatening only if they involve breaks in large bones such as the thigh, sever an artery, or affect breathing.

4. Musculoskeletal Injuries (cont.) 2. Dislocations ► Movement of a bone at a joint away from its normal position. ► Tearing the ligaments that hold the bones in place. ► Displaced bone end often forms a bump, a ridge, or hollow that doesn’t normally exist.

5. Musculoskeletal Injuries (cont.) 3. Sprain ► Tearing of ligaments at a joint. ► Mild sprains may swell but usually heal quickly. ► Joints most easily injured are the ankle, knee, wrist, and fingers.

6. Musculoskeletal Injuries (cont.) 4. Strain  Stretching or tearing of muscles and tendons.  Often caused by lifting something heavy or working a muscle too hard.  Usually involves muscles in the neck, back, or thigh or the back of the lower leg.

7. Signals of Injury… ► Pain ► Swollen and red, or bruised ► Twisted or strangely bent ► Lumps, ridges, and hollows ► Victim may hear a snap or pop at the time of the injury or feel bones grating.

8. When should you can an ambulance?  Head, neck, or back injury.  The victim is having problems breathing.  The victim is unable to move or use the injured part without pain.

9. General Care R.I.C.E ► Rest – Ice – Compression - Elevation Ice applied to an injury helps reduce swelling and pain.

10. What is the purpose of splinting? *** To keep an injured area from moving. ► Anatomic splint  A part of the victim’s body used as a splint. ► Soft splint  A blanket, towel, or pillow used as a splint. ► Sling  A triangular bandage can be used as a sling to splint an injured arm, wrist, or hand. ► Rigid splint  Boards, folded magazines, and newspapers, and metal strips used as rigid splint.

11. Steps for applying a splint ► Check for feeling, warmth and color before and after applying a splint. ► Always splint above and below the injury. ► Only splint in the position you find the injury. ► Tie the splint snug. Not so tight that it cuts off circulation, or too loose so that the injured area can be moved.