Custom splints for Wilderness survival

Custom splints can be a challenge to make. As stated in the previous article, Rescue Splints, ingenuity is key. Here we will cover each section of the body and how to splint it. Let's get right into it. From the top down.

In all cases these rules apply first:
1. Check the injury. Is it a closed fracture, open fracture or a dislocation?
2. If it is a fracture, immobilize the joint above and below the fracture
3. If it a dislocation, immobilize the joint, splinting above and below
4. Gather the materials that you will need. Solid support material, padding material and tying material
5. Take your time and do it right the first time

Note:
Use a sling and swath for all upper extremity injuries. You will also use cravats or ties.

Sling:
Hangs from the neck down around the forearm. Supporting the forearm and elbow

Swath:
Wraps around the chest tying the arm to the chest and prevents it from swinging out.

Cravat:
Simply a large triangular piece of cloth or material that is used to tie splints.

Shoulder:
This one is fairly straight forward. You will want to put the forearm in a sling and then strap the forearm to the chest using a sling and swath, effectively immobilizing the shoulder. Makes sure you don't put straps right on the shoulder.

Custom splints for the upper arm or Humerus:

1. Very carefully bend the forearm to a 90º angle
2. Put a wad of padding in the victims hand. You want to attain a position of function. Basically the hand should look as though it is holding a softball.
3. Now place the solid splint material along the upper arm from past the shoulder to past the elbow
4. Put padding in any empty spaces between the splint supports and arm
5. Tie it all together
6. Check blood circulation, motion in fingers and sensations in fingertips.
7. If it is too tight, loosen
8. Put the arm in a sling. Do not support the elbow. The weight of the splint and forearm will allow for natural traction

Custom splints for the lower arm or Forearm and Wrist:

1. Bend the forearm to a 90º angle
2. Put a wad of padding in the victims hand. Whatever the victim is comfortable with but try to achieve position of function.
3. Inner splint should extend from elbow to past the hand. Outer splint should extend from past the elbow to past the hand.
4. Hand should be resting on splint support allowing the hand to be supported.
5. Tie splint supports to arm above and below the fracture
6. Pad empty spaces between splint and arm
7. Secure the hand to the splint supports to keep it from moving
8. Wrap whole forearm in padding
9. Put the forearm in a sling
10. Apply the swath

Note:
While the arm is in the sling the forearm should be angled upward to reduce pain and throbbing. A good way to do this is to have the victim pretend to say the pledge of allegiance. Putting his or her hand over their heart. Then apply sling.

Elbow:
Everything remains the same, the difference is that you will need to make sure there is no pressure on the elbow itself. Pad the entire elbow as well as possible. Put the sling under the forearm only and the swath up high on the chest.

Lower extremities:
Before you make a splint for a lower leg fracture or dislocation you will need to decide if the leg is usable or unusable. If it is usable it means the victim will be able to walk out under their own power, although with difficulty. If the leg is unusable then that will require you to either splint the leg and make the victim comfortable while you go for help or you will have to make a stretcher and pull the victim out yourself. A very difficult task.

Custom splints for the lower extremities:

Note:
Lower extremity splints are accomplished much easier with two people. One person too support the leg while the other applies the splint.

A custom splint for a usable leg–lower leg:

For a usable lower leg you will want a splint that has none or very little side-to-side movement but still some forward motion. That will make for a little easier walking, rather than a completely stiff leg.

You can use a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, a tent fly rolled up, tent footprint rolled up, you get the idea.

Custom splints for a knee injury:

1. The splint should extend from half way up the thigh to half way down the calf
2. Place ties or cravats under the leg
3. Pad the splint
4. Put the splint under the leg and bend the splint around the leg
5. Keep the leg slightly bent
6. Pad any empty spaces between the splint and leg
7. Tie the splint onto the leg. Above and below the injury

Usable ankle injury:
Wrap the ankle a tightly as is comfortable for the victim. The best method is to wrap the ankle while the shoe is on. Use the shoe as an ankle support.

Custom splints for unusable lower leg injuries:
You will need to immobilize the whole leg, ankle included on each of these methods.

Knee injuries and lower leg:

1. The splint should extend from just underneath the crotch area down past the foot.
2. Place your ties down first
3. Put your padding in place
4. Put the splint in place
5. Tie it all onto the leg
6. Make sure the ties are above and below the injury.

Now we need to fasten the bottom of the splint to support the ankle.

If you used two poles, sticks or something rigid then you will need to attach a cross member onto the splint supports underneath the boot. Then wrap the boot, support poles and cross-member all together as one unit. When you are done you should have formed a boot. The ends of the support poles should only be 1-2 inches past the cross-member.

If you used a sleeping pad, a rolled up sleeping bag or something to that effect then you will need to bend the ends of the pad up so that it forms a roll under the boot. Once you have the rolls then bend the ends of the roll so they come together at the toe of the boot. Wrap all this together with cravats. You should have formed a boot when you are done.

Custom splints for the femur:
Femur fractures require traction splints. It is beyond the scope of this book to teach this method. I highly recommend taking a first aid course that will teach this. I do have one method in the Fractures first aid section but that is something that will need practice and professional teaching.

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