Breaking a bone can be scary and painful. If you or someone else gets hurt, acting fast and smart can help a lot.
This guide explains exactly what you should do step-by-step if a bone injury happens.
What Should You Do in a Bone Injury Emergency?
First, stay calm. If you think a bone is broken, don’t touch or move it. Call for help right away.
Keep the injured person still, and don’t let them walk if a leg or foot is hurt. Use a splint to keep the bone in one position until help comes.
Why Quick Action Matters
Every year, about 6.3 million people in the U.S. break a bone. Kids, athletes, and older adults are at highest risk.
Fast and correct bone injury emergency care can lower infection risk, prevent worse injuries, and even save lives.
Real Life: How Fast Help Saves the Day
Doctors say that getting help within the “golden hour” is important after a major injury. A study from the Mayo Clinic found that kids who got bone injuries treated within 45 minutes healed faster and had fewer problems.
In one case, a teen football player avoided surgery because his ankle break was splinted on the field and rushed to the hospital.
Signs Someone Might Have a Broken Bone
You won’t always see a bone poking out of the skin. Sometimes, the signs are less obvious.
Watch for:
- Sharp pain right after a fall or blow
- Swelling or bruising
- The bone or limb looks bent or twisted
- The person cannot use that body part
- There’s a grinding or popping sound when they try to move
If you see these signs, treat it like a broken bone until a doctor can check.
Step-by-Step: What To Do Right Away
Let’s make this super simple. If you think someone broke a bone, here’s what to do.
Remember: Don’t try to “fix” it yourself!
1. Stop and Think Safety First
Make sure you and the hurt person are safe. If you’re on the street or in a sports game, move away from traffic or danger if you can do so without moving the hurt limb.
2. Call for Help
Call emergency services, or have someone else do it. In most places, call 911.
3. Do Not Move the Hurt Bone
Keep the hurt limb as still as possible. Do not move, twist, or pull on it.
4. Control Any Bleeding
If you see blood, put a clean cloth or gauze pad gently over the wound. Press lightly to stop the bleeding.
If you see bone sticking out, do not push it back in.
5. Splint the Limb if You Can
A splint keeps the bone still. You can use rolled newspapers, a stick, or even a folded magazine. Wrap the splint on both sides of the limb.
Tie it gently with a cloth or belt—just tight enough to hold, but not so tight that it cuts off blood flow.
6. Use ICE
Put an ice pack or a cold wet cloth on the area. This helps stop swelling and pain.
Wrap the ice in a towel first and only keep it on for 20 minutes at a time.
7. Keep Them Comfortable
Help the person sit or lie down and stay calm.
If they feel sick or dizzy, have them lie flat and raise their legs (unless the injury is to the leg or hip).
Special Cases: Head, Spine, and Open Fractures
Some bone injuries are extra serious.
Head or Neck Injuries
Don’t move the person at all. If you move someone with a head, neck, or back injury, you can cause paralysis.
Wait for medics.
Open Fractures
If the bone is poking through the skin, don’t touch it. Cover lightly with a clean cloth.
These need hospital care fast to avoid infection.
What NOT to Do
Some things can make the injury worse.
Never do these:
- Don’t try to set or straighten the bone.
- Don’t give food or water (in case they need surgery).
- Don’t give them any medicine unless a doctor says so.
What Happens at the Hospital?
Doctors will do X-rays first. Most broken bones are set back into place (called “reduction”), then put in a cast or splint. Some need metal pins or plates.
You’ll likely get pain medicine. Most kids heal in 4 to 6 weeks. Older people take longer.
A 2022 study from Johns Hopkins showed that teens and young adults heal broken arms in just 34 days on average, while people over 60 may take twice as long.
How Fast Should You Seek Help?
The sooner, the better! Delaying care can lead to problems.
One case at a Boston hospital found that a boy who waited a whole day came in with his arm bent in the wrong way. He needed surgery and stayed in the hospital for days.
Aim to get medical care within 60 minutes, especially with bad breaks.
After Emergency Care: Healing Your Bone
Follow your doctor’s orders for healing at home. Keep the cast dry and clean.
Don’t walk on a hurt leg unless your doctor says it’s okay. Eat foods with calcium, like milk, cheese, and yogurt.
Bones need calcium and vitamin D to grow strong again.
Fast Facts: Bone Injury by the Numbers
- 1 out of 2 boys and 1 in 3 girls will break a bone before they turn 18.
- Older adults often break hips and wrists in falls.
- Car accidents and sports are the top causes for teens.
- 10% of bone injuries are “open fractures” (bone comes out through skin) and need urgent surgery.
When Should You Worry?
See a doctor right away if:
- The pain won’t go away
- The limb looks bent or very swollen
- There is tingling, numbness, or blue fingers or toes
- Blood is coming out or bone is sticking out
- The person cannot move the limb at all
Recap: Bone Injury Emergency Care Steps
- Keep the injured body part still.
- Call for help fast.
- Splint, ice, and comfort the person until medical help arrives.
Acting quickly and calmly can help bones heal right and keep everyone safe!