In the great wilderness, sometimes nature steps on our toes (or breaks them). Whether you're out for a quick day hike with you're pup or scaling the rugged ridges of remote mountains, the unexpected can always happen. This week at Six Point Survival, we're zeroing in on an essential skill that could very well be the linchpin in your outdoor emergency knowledge toolkit: - making you a bigger tool bag - crafting an improvised splint for any break, sprain, or fracture you or your crew may experience.
Understanding the Basics
First off, let's unravel the mystery of sprains, breaks, and fractures. These are not just mere setbacks, but real threats that can immobilize the most seasoned adventurers. Rolling your ankle is probably the most common injury that happens while hiking and backpacking. Not understanding how to property care for it may turn your day hike into a long and painful crawl back to civilization. So what exactly should you do if this happens? Immobilize it! Stopping any movement, and if you have snow or ice available getting it on quickly, will be your first step. To property build a splint, you'll need to secure the bones or joins above and below the injury. If you're building a splint for a bone, then stopping the joints above and below it is the goal. If you've injured a joint, then make sure you secure off the bones above and below the injury. Something like this for a wrist injury, securing to the hand and forearm.
The Essentials of Improvised Splint Techniques
The goal of splinting is akin to reinforcing a leaning shelter; it's all about providing stability and support. In the wild, if you don't have a large medical kit with your very own splint, your splinting materials could range from sturdy sticks to your clothes. Your imagination is really the limit here BUT knowing a general guide of how to apply the splint will help make it more comfortable and sturdy.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making an Improvised Splint
1. Assessment: Before you dive into action, take a good assessment of the injury, your resources, and other pressing matters. Ask some simple questions like:
Can I walk?
Am I bleeding?
Do I need to phone for help?
What happens if I can't walk myself out?
Does anyone know where I am?
These may seem simple but if your injury worsens, no one knows where you are, and you're unable to get back to a vehicle or civilization, your bad situation is about to turn worse.
2. Material Gathering: Scour your surroundings for splint materials - don't forget to consider the materials that you've brought with you. Sturdy sticks, padding from backpacks, a shirt, rolled up grass or magazine, or even rolled-up magazines can serve as the backbone of your splint. Your bones may be mush, so make sure you're finding something that is going to replace the sturdiness that you've lost form your injury. If you want to avoid sticks and t-shirts, you can always check out a multi-purpose splint and bandage like these.
3. Splint Construction: You'll want to do this in a few step process. First consider where you're splinting. If you're using sticks and they're going to be against skin, I'd recommend padding them. You can use leaves for this but long distance sicks rubbing against skin is never a fun experience. Next use the sticks (or other rigid materials) against the injured limb. Make sure they are sturdy enough to bear weight if you're making something for leg and plan on walking on it when you're ready.
4. Securing the Splint: Use belts, shoelaces, cord, tape, strips of clothing (get the best shirts here), vines, roots, or anything else you can find to tie the splint materials together. These should be strong enough to hold the structure together. The key is firm support without cutting off the flow of circulation, though circulation will always be diminished, which we will address in a moment. If you're wearing boots, it may be wise to loosen your laces to allow for good circulation and support. Removing a shoe or boot can help, however if the swelling gets to bad, you may be able to put it back on, making for a difficult walk out.
5. Wrapping up: Depending on your environment, you may find the limb you've splinted getting cold easily. It's time to add some protection and insulation. As you may have noticed from the photo above, getting this caught on a branch or vine can happen easily. Wrapping it in something like a t-shirt, stuff sack, water proof sack, or something else can help keep it warm AND minimize it getting pulled on. Take a moment to get what you can to make yourself comfortable.
6. Aftercare: It's likely to loosen up so stop as needed to adjust and re-secure it. Taking a few rest stops if you've been injured is a good idea anyways to assess your situation and make sure you're still on the right path. It only takes a minute or two to dress these splints up to make yourself more effective and comfortable.
Dos and Don'ts of Improvised Splinting
Do's:
Make it strong
Make it comfortable
Immobilize above and below the injury
Fix as needed
Make it in the most comfortable position
Don'ts:
Make it quick or cheap (no one like quick and cheap)
Ignore maintenance
Attempt to realign the bone/joint
Cause further injury
Real-Life Application
While teaching a survival program in the Kaniksu National Forest in beautiful Eastern Washington, we had to put these skills to the test. One of the group members slipped while walking along side a hill (a good reminder to step OVER logs and not on them). As the person went down she heard a loud POP and was unable to get up. I loosened her boot, inspected for any deformities, and waited a few minutes to see if it was anything serious. After about 10 minutes she was still unable to bear weight on it, we decided it was time to splint and evacuate. We used her boot, some splinting materials, and a couple of sticks to provide ankle support. Then myself and a few other evacuated her to the closest road where we had already alerted the medical staff to our situation. Four days later I heard back from the medical team and learned that she broke her tibia and fibula requiring 13 screws and a metal plate. An injury like this out on your own could literally be a death sentence.
Conclusion
As we wrap up this week's survival chapter, remember that knowledge is the most lightweight and versatile tool you can carry on any adventure. Improvised splinting is not just about sticks and makeshift bindings; it's a testament to the resilience and ingenuity that defines the spirit of survival. So, next time you venture into the embrace of Mother Nature, remember that with the right skills, even when nature steps on your toes, you can still dance through the wilderness. Remember ~ No One Is Coming To Save You ~
Additional Resources
Eager to weave more strands into your survival knowledge web? Keep an eye on our upcoming courses and workshops, where we delve deeper into the vital art of survival medicine. Together, let's ensure that in the great outdoors, we're not just survivors, but thrivers.
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