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How To Build A Backcountry Knee SplintYour hiking buddy torqued their knee? This simple splint can prevent further injury and let you both limp home.Photos by Jennifer Howe / howephoto.us
Sit the patient down and support their knee with a stuff bag or clothing. Use R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) to minimize the swelling that occurs immediately after an injury. Ibuprofen can also help reduce swelling.
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READERS COMMENTS
Page 1
You might advise your readers to avoid a tightly rolled packing behind the knee as it could limit circulation of the popliteal artery. Having a sprained knee turn into a necrotic candidate for amputation might not be the best of outcomes. :)
Mason - orthopedic nurse
— MasonMcD
Don't forget to check circulation in the splinted limb and adjust splint to insure proper circulation.
— Tom Hennigan
As a Red Cross instructor, (I teach basic and wilderness First Aid) I'd like to corect a few things (sorry). R.I.C.E. stands for rest, immoblize, cold and elavation. compression is no longer the standerd. I like the sling to help to keep the splint in place. remember we only splint if we HAVE to move the person. If you can get more professional help, do so. I also recomend that everyone take a CPR/ First Aid class. AmericanRed Cross offers class' For all scheduls. Go to www.redcross.org Thanx.
— Chris H.
What should you use if you don't have a sleeping pad?
— Josh
In response to the previous comment about RICE, cold is already included in the mnemonic, but it does not replace compression. Besides, in the backcountry cold is probably going to be pretty difficult to come by. Compression is very effective in helping to reduce swelling that may otherwise be debilitating and prevent someone from being able to assist in their own self rescue. The key is to make sure that you do not wrap anything so tightly around the limb that you impede distal circulation, make sure that the person's leg is still pink and warm to the touch (or that a pulse is present if you know where to look for one) and that they still have good feeling in their extremity.
— Bryon B. NREMT-P, RN
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