Splint a Fractured Rib in the Wilderness

Rib injuries are very painful, and breathing may be excruciating. A punctured lung is not usual, but that and a collapsed lung is possible. What can you do while getting help? Read on.

Steps

 * 1) Try settling down for a short time to see if the pain subsides a little. For the first few minutes you may feel like moving is not possible.
 * 2) Apply pressure to open wounds, and attend to cuts and punctures, if any.
 * 3) Expect to hurt worse in a day or two when the muscles become swollen and very sore.
 * 4) Get moving quickly, because you have to deal with it before you are extremely sore. So, avoid unnecessary lounging, sleeping and resting for more than several minutes. It will mainly waste time.
 * 5) Get emergency help, transportation if possible, medical advice and attention as soon as practical.
 * 6) Expect little treatment and no surgery unless there are multiple fractures, open fractures, lung involvement, or complications such as infection, drainage of puncture wounds, etc.
 * 7) Consider how the ribs are encased in muscles and connective tissues which may be extremely sore for weeks, and take several months to become comfortable and complete recovery to normal.
 * 8) Seek immediate life-support for the chest injury called flail chest: this occurs when two, three or more adjoining ribs are broken in two or more places.
 * 9) Detect "flail chest" by a section of ribs moving in and out opposite to the rest of the ribs during breathing due to air pressures. It is most commonly seen in cases of serious blunt trauma (falling from a height, automobile wreck or other accident).
 * 10) Realize that the ribs will usually heal while held in line only by the other ribs and by the muscles. Ribs usually heal without any special wraps.
 * 11) To bind the ribs tightly is not advised. There is not much of a way to brace your ribs. Wrapping may seem logical, but is of doubtful benefit.
 * 12) To brace the ribs could cause rigidity and even induce more pain. Wear a rib belt (if prescribed). The belt works like a girdle and supports the ribs.
 * 13) Do not attempt to use a tourniquet on the ribs, chest, neck, head or torso -- there is not way. Tourniquets can only be used on arms and legs between the heart and the wound.
 * 14) * Expect to cause nerve damage and possible loss of a limb by using a tourniquet.
 * 15) Once you get to civilization, rest and recuperation are the main treatment for sore, cracked or not too badly broken ribs.

Tips

 * Move slowly and try not to aggravate the injury by over exertion, but you might need to be removed by helicopter if you would have to climb a mountain to get to shelter and help.

Warnings

 * If possible, do not pull out anything such as an impaling piece of wood sticking in you ribs. Doing so or trying to might rip flesh and cause more serious, or even severe bleeding dangers.
 * Surgery, a kind of back brace, traction and body cast may rarely be used for very complex, multiple injuries such as crushing, etc.
 * Getting in/out of bed will be extremely painful, as it is virtually impossible to do so without involving the chest and rib cage muscles. Sorry!
 * Lower rib fractures may involve injuring the diaphragm which might create a very serious hernia which might be life threatening if it interfered with the diaphragm in breathing.
 * Deadly hemorrhaging is possible in the lungs (not seen until smothering, choking and spitting blood) from possible serious blood vessel injury from artery or lung ripping.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Care for Superficial Wounds
 * How to Relieve Bruised Ribs
 * How to Prevent Breaking Bones
 * How to Hike Safely
 * How to Walk Safely at Night
 * How to Keep Your Bones and Joints Healthy