Strains and sprains

Lily is on the floor after falling off her skateboard. Mae Lily ar y llawr ar ôl disgyn oddi ar ei bwrdd sglefrio.

Learn how to help someone who has a strain or sprain.

Learning objectives

Learn how to recognise when someone might have a strain or sprain
Learn the key action to help when someone might have a strain or sprain
Practise applying the key action to a known situation in a role play
Share something creative to inform others how they can help someone who might have a strain or sprain

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Click through the slides below to watch the film

How confident do you feel about helping someone who has a strain or sprain?

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Lily, Hayden and Matt are skating to the park, when Lily falls and twists her ankle. Matt steps in and decides how to help.

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I wasn’t paying attention and must have hit a loose paving stone or something as suddenly my board flipped and I fell over and twisted my ankle.

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It really hurt! I didn’t know what to do so I just sat there, clutching it and trying not to cry. Matt said I needed to support the injury and helped me to rest my foot on his bag.

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My ankle was starting to swell and it felt really sore. Matt told Hayden to run back to his house and grab something really cold to put on it to stop the swelling.

Back

Mae Lily yn cynnal ei choes ar fag. Mae Matt yn ei chysuro ac mae Hayden yn rhedeg i gael pys wedi rhewi.

Hayden came back with a very cold bag of frozen peas. Matt wrapped the bag of peas in his t-shirt, and carefully put this make-shift ice pack on my ankle.

Back

Lily is sitting on the floor with her leg supported by a bag. Hayden and Matt reassure her. Mae Lily yn eistedd ar y llawr gyda'i choes yn cael ei chynnal gan fag. Mae Hayden a Matt yn ei chysuro.

Matt and Hayden were both great and stayed with me until I started to feel better. Who knew a pack of frozen veg could make such a difference?

Back

Lily fell off her board in the middle of the street. Did her friends take her injury seriously or ignore it?

Back

Swelling and pain in a muscle or joint are common signs that someone has a strain or sprain? What other sign might we look for?

Rash Difficulty breathing Bruises Feeling sick

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Try Again

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Why did Hayden put a bag of frozen peas on Lily’s ankle?

To reduce swelling and pain To minimise scarring and pain To take her mind off it

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Try Again

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Lily is supporting her leg on a bag and has frozen peas on her ankle. Hayden and Matt reassure her. Mae Lily yn cynnal ei choes ar fag ac mae pys wedi rhewi ar ei ffêr. Mae Hayden a Matt yn ei chysuro.

How confident do you feel about helping someone who has a strain or sprain?

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Take action: If someone has a strain or sprain, apply an ice pack to the injury.

Start Over

First aid for strains and sprains

Step 1.

Someone may have a sprain or strain if there has been a sudden movement to a part of the body and the person has pain, swelling or bruising around a joint or muscle.

Step 2.

Apply an ice pack to the injury for up to twenty minutes (e.g. a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth).

Step 3.

Get the person to rest the injured part of the body. If there is no improvement seek medical advice.

Can you help someone who is has a strain or sprain?

Take the quiz

Learn

These activities help young people learn what to do when someone has a strain or a sprain.

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