Signs and symptoms of broken bones:

• Hearing a ‘snap’ noise or a grinding noise during the injury.
• Swelling.
• Bruising .
• Tenderness.
• Feeling of ‘pins and needles’.
• Painful to bear weight on the injured area.
• Painful to move the injured area.

What to do:

• Remove loose clothing from the injured part if it is easy to do so, but do not attempt to remove tight jeans or jumpers.

• Apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in cloth.

• Place a splint on the injured part by:
  o Keeping the injured limb in the position you find it.
  o Place soft padding around the affected area.
  o Placing something firm next to the affected area making sure that its long enough to go past the joints
    above and below the injury.
  o Keep the splint in place with first aid tape.

• Seek medical attention and don’t let the person eat in case surgery is needed.
  

Do not move if:

• The person seems to have seriously injured the head, neck or back.

• A broken bone come through the skin (apply constant pressure with a clean gauze pad or thick cloth around the protruding bone to control bleeding, and keep the person lying down until help arrives: do not wash the wound or push in any part of the bone that is sticking out).
  
  Dial 999