Kids and Health Care: Suspect a Broken Bone?

• If the injury involves the neck or back, never move a child unless he or she is in imminent danger. Movement can cause serious nerve damage. Call 911. If the child is moved, the neck and back must be completely immobilized first. When emergency care arrives, they'll know how to keep your child's head, neck and back in alignment.
• If the injury involves an open break (bone protrudes through the skin) and there is severe bleeding, apply pressure on the bleeding area with a gauze pad or a clean piece of cloth. Do not clean the wound or try to push back any part of the bone that may be sticking out.
• If the child must be moved (e.g., injury occurred in a high-traffic, public place), apply splints around the injured limb to prevent further injury. Leave the limb in the position you find it. Use boards, brooms, a stack of newspapers, cardboard or anything firm, and pad them with pillows, shirts, towels, etc. Splints must be long enough to extend beyond the joints above and below the fracture.
• Apply cold packs or a bag of ice wrapped in cloth on the injured area and keep the child lying down until medical help arrives.