Fractures and Sprains First Aid: Support, Cold and When to Call

It is often impossible to tell a bad sprain from a broken bone without an X-ray, so first aid for both starts the same way. This is part of the injury section of the first aid course.

Signs of a fracture

• Pain, swelling and bruising.
• Deformity or an unusual angle.
• Unable to use or bear weight on it.
• A grating feeling or sound.
• Bone visible through a wound.

Supporting the limb

Let the person hold an injured arm against their body, or support a leg with rolled towels either side. A sling or splint helps only if you are trained and the ambulance is far away; the course shows when and how.

Open fractures

Cover the wound with a clean dressing, pressing around the bone rather than on it to control bleeding — see severe bleeding.

Sprains and strains

Rest, a cold pack for up to 20 minutes at a time, and support. If they cannot bear weight or pain is severe, get it checked.

Neck and back

After a fall from height or a road collision, keep the person still and do not move them unless they are in danger — see head and spine injuries.

Where they happen

Sports pitches, construction sites and playgrounds — see sports first aid and site first aid.

This guide summarises first aid for the public and does not replace training or medical advice. In an emergency in the UAE call 998 for an ambulance.

More First Aid guides: Emergency-by-emergency first aid

• First Aid Course in Abu Dhabi — dates, format and booking
• Severe Bleeding First Aid: Pressure, Tourniquets and Packing
• Burns First Aid: Cool, Cover, and When a Burn Needs Hospital
• Heat Stroke vs Heat Exhaustion: First Aid for UAE Summers
• Anaphylaxis First Aid: Recognising a Severe Allergic Reaction
• Asthma Attack First Aid: Helping With a Reliever Inhaler
• Heart Attack First Aid: Warning Signs and What to Do
• Stroke First Aid: The FAST Test and Why Time Matters
• Seizure First Aid: Keep Them Safe, Time It, and When to Call 998
• Low Blood Sugar First Aid: Helping in a Diabetic Emergency
• Fainting First Aid: What to Do Before and After Someone Faints
• Head Injury and Concussion First Aid: Danger Signs to Watch For
• Poisoning First Aid: Swallowed, Inhaled and Skin Exposures
• Bites and Stings First Aid: Scorpions, Snakes, Bees and Jellyfish
• Drowning First Aid: Safe Rescue, Breathing and Pool Safety
• Eye Injury First Aid: Chemicals, Dust and Objects in the Eye
• Electric Shock First Aid: Make It Safe Before You Touch
• First Aid Kit Checklist for Home, Car and Workplace
• All First Aid guides, by topic

Other life support and first aid courses: BLS Course · ACLS Course · PALS Course · Training calendar

Frequently asked questions

How do you tell a sprain from a fracture?

Often you cannot without an X-ray; treat both the same way.

Should you straighten a broken bone?

No, support it in the position found.

How long should ice be applied?

Wrapped in a cloth, for up to 20 minutes at a time.

When is a fracture an emergency?

If deformed, the bone is through the skin, it involves the neck, back, hip or thigh, or the limb below is cold or numb.

Should I apply a splint?

Only if trained and help is far away.

Sources and further reading

What we teach follows the awarding body and the UAE health authorities. For the definitive position on a course or licensing question, these are the places to check.

• Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED — American Heart Association
• CPR and ECC Guidelines — American Heart Association

Last reviewed 21 September 2026 by the training team at Safety First Medical Services, an American Heart Association training centre at Addax Office Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Call +971 55 761 9841 or email training@safetyfirstmed.ae.