Two people look at a person who is face down on metal stairs.

How confident do you feel about helping someone who has broken a bone?

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Rosa is smiling.

Rose and her friends are leaving work when Lara falls down the stairs and hurts her arm. Rose thinks fast and takes action to help.

Two people look at a person who is face down on metal stairs.

Lara, Paul and I work together at the cinema. When our shift finished we were in a hurry to leave - we had a party to get to. To save time we left by a back entrance closest to the car park. As we rushed down the metal stairs, Lara slipped and tumbled forward.

Lara is lying face down on metal stairs as Lara and Paul look at her.

I heard a cracking noise as she landed on her arm. It sounded horrible, and Lara was clearly in a lot of pain.

Lara is lying face down on metal stairs as Lara and Paul look at her.

Paul and I rushed down to where Lara had fallen to see if she was okay. She said straight away that she had broken her arm – it was really painful and bent slightly out of shape.

A helper supports the right arm of a young person as a third person watches.

Paul thought we should get Lara down to the car park but I made Lara sit where she was. I could see Paul was a bit shaken up. I asked him to call 999 on his mobile while I helped Lara.

A helper supports the right arm of a young person as a third person watches.

As Paul spoke to the emergency services I took off my scarf and used it as padding for Lara’s arm. I also encouraged her to support her injured arm with her other hand.

A helper supports the right arm of a young person as a third person watches.

I let Lara know that the ambulance was on its way and we stayed with her until help arrived. It made me feel better knowing they were on the way. Getting to the party didn’t matter anymore.

If you were in a rush to get somewhere, would you stop and help an injured friend, like Rose and Paul did for Lara?

Now let’s take a closer look at this skill.

If a person has a broken bone, the limb may look misshapen and will be painful. What else might indicate a broken bone?

Rash around the injury Skin is cold to the touch around the injury Swelling around the injury
Back Sorry, wrong answer
Correct answer next

If you think someone has broken a bone, what should you do to help?

Grip the limb tightly Support the limb gently Let the limb hang loosely
Back Sorry, wrong answer
Correct answer next

Watch this animation to see how the key action works.

A helper supports the right arm of a young person as a third person watches.
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A helper supports the right arm of a young person as a third person watches.

How confident do you feel about helping someone who has broken a bone?

0
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Totally
A helper supports the right arm of a young person as a third person makes a phone call.

Take action: If someone has a broken bone, keep the injury still and supported.

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